Indian football team goalkeeper Gurpreet Singh has revealed how he managed to make back-to-back saves in the semi-final and final as India lifted their record ninth SAFF Championship title in Bengaluru on Tuesday.
India won two consecutive penalty shootouts against Lebanon and Kuwait respectively in the knockout stage to bag the title.
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Bengaluru FC goalkeeper Gurpreet Sandhu made critical saves against Lebanon and Kuwait to make sure that Sunil Chhetri has his hands on the trophy.
How did Gurpreet Singh Sandhu outsmart Lebanon and Kuwait to win India SAFF Championship 2023?
Speaking to Indian Express, Sandu said,
I hadn’t even faced the players before and did not know much about them. It’s just your gut instinct. My mindset was to stay big and stay there (on the line) for as late as possible, make sure I don’t make the decision of where they hit for them. Sometimes, good penalty-takers see the goalkeeper going one way and then, they just slot it on the other side. My aim was to go when the guy touches the ball with his feet and try to go to the right side.
The experienced goalkeeper added,
It was just me figuring it out that they were trying to trick me by showing, since they are right footed, they might go to their left. And at the last moment, they changed (their position) and pushed it on the other side. I anticipated he’s the captain (Khaled Hajiah) so he’ll try to be smart by feigning movements. I did the same. In the second one, I faked it a little bit – showed that I might go right – but I dove on the left.
Penalty shoot outs!
— FanCode (@FanCode) July 4, 2023
🇰🇼: ❌ ✅ ✅ ✅ ✅ ❌
🇮🇳: ✅ ✅ ✅ ❌ ✅ ✅
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.#SAFFChampionship2023 #INDKUW pic.twitter.com/IaTfnXENjz
What next for Gurpreet Singh Sandhu?
The 31-year-old is set to travel to Norway next where he will train at his old club Stabaek FC to prepare for the upcoming season.
He will come back to India before August to join Bengaluru FC's pre-season preparation ahead of participating in the Durand Cup.
MORE: Where did India finish in FIH Pro League 2023?
