Chiang Mai, Thailand : In a heart-pounding semi-final showdown at the 700th Anniversary Stadium in Chiang Mai, Thailand, the Indian men’s football team narrowly lost to Iraq in a penalty shootout, concluding regulation time with a 2-2 tie. The thrilling match marked a dramatic journey for both teams, with India ultimately falling short as Iraq emerged victorious 5-4 on penalties.
The encounter was a roller-coaster of emotions, featuring moments of brilliance, controversy, and high-stakes drama. India opened the scoring in the 17th minute when Naorem Mahesh found the back of the net. However, Iraq quickly responded, with Ali Al-Hamadi converting a penalty in the 28th minute, leveling the score at 1-1 at halftime.
The second half continued to deliver excitement as India regained the lead thanks to an own goal by Iraqi goalkeeper Jalal Hassan Hachem, who mishandled a shot from India’s Manvir Singh. With the score at 2-1 in favor of India, the match intensified, and Iraq fought valiantly.
Iraq managed to level the score once more, with Aymen Hussein successfully converting a penalty in the 80th minute after being fouled in the box. Both teams displayed immense determination during the closing moments of regulation time, with Iraq pressing for a winner and India defending resolutely.
The match took an even more dramatic turn when Zidane Iqbal of Iraq was shown a red card, giving India a numerical advantage in the dying minutes. However, India was unable to capitalize on the situation, and the contest ultimately headed to a penalty shootout.
In the tense penalty shootout, Brandon Fernandes of India faced the agonizing misfortune of hitting the post, allowing Iraq to secure their spot in the final with a 5-4 victory in the shootout.
The Indian team, ranked 99th in the world, faced the tournament without the presence of their talismanic leader, Sunil Chhetri, who opted out due to personal reasons. Nevertheless, they displayed commendable resilience and teamwork throughout the tournament.
Iraq, currently ranked 70th in the world, showcased their prowess as the highest-ranked team in the competition and will advance to the final of the King’s Cup 2023.
The Indian men’s football team will now prepare for the third-place match, where they will face the second losing semi-finalist from the upcoming clash between hosts Thailand and Lebanon. India has previously tasted success in the King’s Cup, winning a bronze medal in 2019 by defeating Thailand 1-0 in the third-place match.
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