The 2021 SAFF Championship Final saw India vs Nepal battle it out to be crowned as Champions. This is the 13th edition of the biennial tournament, it is being held at the National Football Stadium in Malé, the Maldives from 1 to 16 October 2021.
Meanwhile, the most successful team at SAFF Championship is India with 7 titles. At the 2021 SAFF Championship, India is the only team who is unbeaten so far as out of 4 group stage matches played – Team India had managed 2 Draws & 2 Wins.
However, India had a disappointing start to the tournament being held by Bangladesh and Sri Lanka to a draw. But India won its next two matches against Nepal & hosts Maldives to qualify for the 2021 SAFF Championship Final. Whereas, Nepal was playing their 1st-ever Final of the SAFF Championship.
Nepal’s Starting XI
Kiran Limbu (GK), Ananta Tamang, Dinesh Rajbanshi, Suman Aryal, Gautam Shrestha, Rohit Chand, Tej Tamang, Pujan Uparkoti, Sujal Shrestha, Suman Lama, Nawayug Shrestha.
India’s Starting XI
Here's how the #BlueTigers 🐯 will line up tonight 🙌#NEPIND ⚔️ #SAFFChampionship2021 🏆 #BackTheBlue 💙 #IndianFootball ⚽ pic.twitter.com/7WiRIrxBW6
— Indian Football Team (@IndianFootball) October 16, 2021
2021 SAFF Championship Final: India vs Nepal
In First-Half, India dominated the ball possession and had chances to take lead but couldn’t convert it.
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As a result, the scoreboard at Half-Time is at 0-0.
At 49’, minutes after the 2nd Half began – India scores the 1st Goal of the 2021 SAFF Championship Final as it’s none other than Skipper Sunil Chhetri whose header off Pritam Kotal’s cross finds the net. The 5th Goal for Sunil Chhetri in the tournament gives India a 1-0 lead in the Final.
With this, Sunil Chhetri now has 80 International Goals equaling Lionel Messi’s goal-tally for Argentina.
But just a minute after, before Nepal could even process about the first goal, India scores another as this time it’s the 21-year-old Suresh Singh Wangjam in the 50’. Thus, India doubled its lead. Hence, India 2-0 Nepal.
Just at stoppage time 90’, India’s Jersey No. 18 – Sahal Abdul Samad who just came from the bench minutes before does an amazing solo effort to trouble the Nepal defenders as he dribbles the ball inside the box and finds the net. As a result, India 3-0 Nepal.
Hence at Full-Time, India won 3-0 against Nepal in the 2021 SAFF Championship Final. With this India are the Champions of the 2021 SAFF Championship. Meanwhile, Sunil Chhetri ends the tournament being the highest goal scorer with five goals.
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List of Awards Presented
Highest Goal Scorer of 2021 SAFF Championship – Sunil Chhetri (5 Goals).
Man of the Match – Sunil Chhetri.
Also, the Most Valuable Player is again Indian Captain Sunil Chhetri.
FULL-TIME ⌛️
🏆🏆🏆🏆C.H.A.M.P.I.O.N.S. 🏆🏆🏆🏆
🇮🇳 3-0 🇳🇵
✍️ https://t.co/Krscpgs4nu#INDNEP ⚔️ #SAFFChampionship2021 🏆 #BackTheBlue 💙 #IndianFootball ⚽ pic.twitter.com/bcZwgDxGHn
— Indian Football Team (@IndianFootball) October 16, 2021
