Mumbai, Jan 4 (IANS) Following India’s record seventh South Asian Football Federation (SAFF) Cup triumph, Test skipper Virat Kohli heaped praise on the football team’s captain Sunil Chhetri for his title-clinching extra-time goal.
India defeated defending champions Afghanistan 2-1 in a hard-fought final at the Trivandrum International Stadium on Sunday.
Chhetri (101st minute) scored the decisive goal for India when he capitalised on a defensive lapse by the visitors in the first half of extra time.
The two teams were locked 1-1 after the regulation 90 minutes. Zubayr Amiri (70th) put Afghanistan in front before Jeje Lalpekhlua (72nd) put India back in the game, and then Chhetri finally sealed the matter.
“Congratulations Team India for lifting the SAFF cup for the 7th time. That extra time winner from Chhetri was mind blowing!” Kohli tweeted after India’s win on Monday.
The Indians thus avenged their 0-2 loss to Afghanistan in the final of the last edition of the tournament in Katmandu in 2013.
The Delhi-born Kohli co-owns Indian Super League (ISL) football franchise FC Goa.
