Live updates from the SAFF Cup final between hosts India and defending champions Afghanistan

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Hello everyone! Welcome to Firstpost sports team's first live blog of 2016. It's the big one today for the Blue Tigers as hosts India take on defending champions Afghanistan for the title of SAFF Champions in Trivandrum. This is Vinayakk and along with our man in the field, Manas Mitul, we will bring you all the action live. Afghans start clear favourites, but can India's young brigade pull off a surprise win? Let's find out. Kickoff is at 630pm.

Oh, India go close yet again! Superb piece of control from Sunil Chhetri inside the box, as he collects a long ball from the left on his chest, and immaculately brings it down before sidestepping past the defenders but the shot is straight at the keeper who got his positioning spot-on. Great bit of football, but still no breakthrough.

And with that, it's half-time in Trivandrum and it remains 0-0. A lively (if scrappy) half that saw some big chances for both the sides. But been a night for the goalkeepers so far as it remains goalless.

GOAL! Afghanistan with a classic counter-punch. A super finish by Zubair through Gurpreet's legs. A defence splitting pass from the left channel finds the No. 7 through on goal and it is a clinical finish. What a crucial goal that could be!

GOAL! WOW! India equalise right back and it's that man Jeje Lalpehlua who has been knocking on the Afghan goal all night. Cue mad celebrations in Trinvandrum! A looping cross from Narzary from the left finds Chhetri in the box, who with the deftest of headers puts Jeje through and with two yards away from goal, he flicks to the back of the net with his right foot, first time.

OH! Chhetri almost gives India the lead! A well-hit free kick from just outside the box in a central position was heading into the top corner, but the 'keeper Azizi flies across and tips it behind for a corner. Inches away from winning it for India.

That's the end of a breathless second half! It's 90 minutes and we still don't have a winner. Extra time in Trivandrum. Who doesn't love more football on a Sunday night.

Extra time underway. Afghanistan make their 2nd chance. India, rather surprsingly, yet to make even one.

India finally make a substitution after 96 mins. Halder comes on for Lyngdoh. Will we see Zuala tonight?

THERE IT IS! HUGE GOAL INDIA! And it's the captain Sunil Chhetri. A scrappy goal as he latches on a poor header from the Afghan defender from a long ball, but great fight from the captain to get a shot away past the keeper as it trickles into the net. What a huge moment!

MISS! What an almighty scrap in India's penalty area. Hand ball appeal, missed clearances, post hit but India hang on. The ball hit Mondal's arm, yes but he was lying on the ground with arm close to his body. 50-50 call, to be fair. Oh, more drama as the Afghan coach has been sent off by the referee! He's in the stands with the fans now.

Arnab Mondal has been stretchered off in the dying minutes here. Khongjee comes on. This could be huge in the last few mins! Mondal was a rock at the back.

And there's the final whistle! India are SAFF Cup champions! Sunil Chhetri's goal the difference as India reclaim the trophy from defending champions. What a match! What a night!

In the end, India hang on and probably deservedly so. The SAFF Cup is back with India.

Full-time analysis : It was a scrappy match for the most part but there was absoultely no dearth of goal-mouth action. Both sides created truckload of chances, but Afghan took the lead with a clinical goal late in regulation time. But Jeje hit right back to take the match into extra-time. With Afghan looking increasingly likely to win it late, up stepped Indian captain Sunil Chhetri to score what proved to be the match-winner. Chhetri and Gurpreet in goal were absolutely tremendous for India. For Afghanistan, the coach was sent off late on for protesting over penalty appeals. To be fair, there were a close couple of calls at the end.

A great start to 2016 for Indian Football. But the real challenges lie ahead. Miles to go before Indian football can achieve greatness. On that note, we sign off from the live blog. It was an absloute pleasure bringing the SAFF Cup action live. Hope you enjoyed Firstpost's coverage over the last eight days.

Kudos to fans in #Thiruvananthapuram too. Came in numbers to #BackTheBlue #SAFFsuzukicup #INDvAFG #Indianfootball

Congratulations to @StephenConstan and @AIFF_India on winning the SAFF Cup Improving the team over time despite difficult circumstances

On behalf of #AIFF I announce a bonus of 50000 dollars above the 50000 dollars prize money to the team. @AiffMedia #IndianFootball

Afghanistan players, visibly distraught, collect their runner up medals. Now its the turn of Indian players to pick up their winners medals.

There it is! Sunil Chhetri hoists the SAFF trophy (amid some organisational hilarity) Gurpreet carries the trophy around and Stephen Constatntine lifts it up along with the team!

There it is! Sunil Chhetri hoists the SAFF trophy (amid some organisational hilarity) Gurpreet carries the trophy around and Stephen Constatntine lifts it up along with the team!

A great start to 2016 for Indian Football. But the real challenges lie ahead. Miles to go before Indian football can achieve greatness. On that note, we sign off from the live blog. It was an absloute pleasure bringing the SAFF Cup action live. Hope you enjoyed Firstpost's coverage over the last eight days.

Match Preview

Thiruvananthapuram: Hosts India are expected to face a tough task when they lock horns with a rampaging Afghanistan in a high-voltage SAFF Championship final at the Trivandrum International Stadium here on Sunday.

Both teams have been unbeaten in the tournament. While Afghanistan have quite convincingly won all of their four matches, the Indians too have delivered when required and gathered three wins from three outings.

The visitors have been on a scoring spree in the tournament which includes a 5-0 hammering of Sri Lanka in the semi-finals. They had a goal difference of +10 in the group stages. India on the other hand edged past Maldives 3-2 in the other semi-final.

The last time the two sides had met in the final of the SAFF Championship in 2013, it was Afghanistan who had emerged victorious (2-0). But Stephen Constantine and his men will be confident of turning the tables this time around.

With striker Robin Singh out with an injury, Constantine would hope that star forward Sunil Chhetri will be able to get the goals. He did it against Maldives, but then again, breaking the Afghanistan defence would be a lot tougher.

Besides Chhetri, the coach would look upto players like Holicharan Narzary and Jeje Lalpekhlua to score for the hosts. We might just also get to see a magical moment from the wonderkid Lallianzuala Chhangte. The 18-year-old netted twice against Nepal and became the youngest Indian scorer, moving past the iconic Baichung Bhutia, who did it as a 19-year-old in 1995.

Another driving factor for the hosts will be the home crowd. The stadium has seen decent turnouts throughout the tournament and the attendance is expected to double for the final.

However, to lift the trophy for the fourth time, the Indian defence will have to play out of their skins. Containing the likes of Masih Saighani, Ahmad Hatifie, and Hassan Amin will be no easy task.

Then there are players like Khaibar Amani and Faysal Shayeseth, who have grabbed four goals each so far in the tourney.

The head to head record speaks in favour of India. Out of the six matches played so far between the two nations, India have won four, drawn one and lost one.

The hosts would ideally want to have a sweet revenge for their 0-2 loss in Nepal two years ago, but stopping such a powerhouse, who have been scoring goals for fun would prove to be a tough challenge.