Indian Blue Tigers are Intercontinental Cup 2023 Champions, Defeating Lebanon 2-0

Intercontinental Cup 2023: Indian men’s senior football team clinched the Intercontinental Cup 2023 with a 2-0 victory over Lebanon in the final at Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneshwar yesterday.

The first half was goalless while in the second half, the hosts made it 1-0 in the 46th-minute with Indian captain Sunil Chhetri’s goal. Lallianzuala Chhangte netted the second goal in the 65th -minute, making it 2-0.  This is India’s second title in the tournament, following their win in the inaugural edition in 2018. Korea won in 2019.

India extended their streak of being unbeaten in the competition as they drew their previous meeting against Lebanon and defeated both Vanuatu and Mongolia. This is Chhetri’s 87th international goals in 137 appearances. Chhetri is continued to be the third highest goal-scorer among active players in international football, only behind Portuguese ace Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi of Argentina.