Heartbreak for India as Lebanon crush dreams of King’s Cup glory

CHIANG MAI: India’s return to Thailand for the 49th King’s Cup football competition ended in disappointment as Igor Stimac’s team lost to Lebanon by a solitary goal in a hard-fought clash in the third-place playoff here on Sunday.

Kassam Al Zein scored with an acrobatic back-volley off a corner kick in the 77th minute in the hard-fought clash which was enough to seal Lebanon’s first victory against India in 2023.

India, bronze medal winners in 2019, squandered many chances as Lebanon, who couldn’t get the better of India in their last two meetings in Bhubaneswar and Bangalore, proved to be third-time lucky despite the Blue Tigers putting immense pressure on the rival defence, especially during the closing stages. Agencies

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