India vs Kuwait SAFF C’ship 2023 Highlights: Match Ends in 1-1 Draw after Anwar Ali Own Goal
live
IND vs KUW, SAFF Championship 2023: Sunil Chhetri scored a stunning goal but a late own goal from India helped Kuwait fight back to draw 1-1 in the final Group A clash of the 2023 Bangabandhu SAFF Championship at Sree Kanteerava Stadium .
AS IT HAPPENED | India vs Kuwait SAFF Championship 2023
Bangalore: Sunil Chhetri scored a stunning goal but a late own goal from India helped Kuwait fight back to draw 1-1 in the final match in Group A of the 2023 Bangabandhu SAFF Championship at Sree Kanteerava Stadium here on Tuesday.
In what was a fast paced and hot tempered game from start to finish, Sunil Chhetri’s 92nd international goal, a clinical volley, put India ahead just before half time. They came close, but could not add more goals to their score. However, an unfortunate own goal by Anwar Ali in second half stoppage time ended a heartbreaking and unfortunate end to India’s hopes of leading the group.
India started aggressively and choked Kuwait with their pressure in the last and middle third. Naorem Mahesh Singh, who scored his first international goal in the previous game, caused all kinds of nuisance from the left wing.
In the fifth minute, he picked up Akash Mishra on the lap and the left-back sent an inviting throw to the middle that flashed just out of Sunil Chhetri’s reach.
India threatened set pieces throughout the game and the first chance came from Mahesh’s corner, which Kuwait failed to clear and landed for Anwar Ali, whose effort was weak and easily blocked on the line.
India’s confrontational approach led to a minor setback in the 14th minute when Sandesh Jhingan’s flying challenge on Eid Al-Rashidi earned him a yellow card and suspension for Saturday’s semi-final.
Kuwait gradually grew into the game and got their first real chance in the 20th minute when Shabaib Al-Khaldi hit a loose ball over the crossbar. Five minutes later, Amrinder Singh saved Mohammad Abdullah’s shot from close range with a fine save from Al-Khaldi’s fine pass.
India looked increasingly dangerous from dead-ball situations, and while Kuwait breathed a sigh of relief when Anwar headed wide from a Thapa corner, Chhetri assured that the next time he asked, that wouldn’t be the case.
Moments before half-time, facing another Thapa corner, the captain, almost in full view against Kuwait’s zonal marker, nestled the ball neatly into the back of the net with a side volley from 12 yards out. One chance was all Sunil Chhetri needed to put India ahead.
As expected, Kuwait came out with a lot of urgency after the break, and while Rui Bento’s side were allowed to see more of the ball, India remained their dominant selves in the defensive third. In the 57th minute, an Al-Khaldi free kick was brilliantly missed by Amrinder.
Offense is the best form of defence, and as cliché as it sounds, that’s how Igor Stimac’s men operated for large parts of the second half. Mahesh, who had swapped positions with Lallianzuala Chhangte after the restart, hit a high cross from the right that fell for Ashique Kuruniyan, who volleyed just over the bar from a tight angle.
Jeakson Singh Thounaojam then got India’s next few chances. First saw his effort blocked by Sultan Al-Enezi before heading Chhangte’s cross wide from the resulting corner.
Jhingan again highlighted India’s defensive prowess with a cracking tackle on Al-Khaldi, who was passed through on goal. The Kanteerava showered her appreciation with loud chants for the 29-year-old.
Just as the game entered the final ten minutes, Stimac was shown a red card after an altercation with referee Alomgir, marking the second time the Croat was sent off in the tournament.
Substitute Rohit Kumar had a glorious chance to cement the victory for the Blue Tigers, but was only able to get Udanta’s low cross from just outside the box.
Amrinder added another strong save to his solid performance in goal as he pushed away a fierce left-footed strike from Al-Khaldi in the 84th minute.
Tempers continued to flare after Stimac’s ejection after a foul was made on Sahal Abdul Samad in the Kuwaiti half and the West Asians prevented a quick restart, resulting in a scuffle, after which Hamad Al-Qallaf and Rahim Ali were sent off.
However, it would be a brutal end to India’s seven-game clean sheet. Abdullah Al-Bloushi’s innocent-looking cross from the right landed in the Indian net when Anwar Ali tried to hook the ball away.
Although the on-field scenes were unfortunate, the Kanteerava crowd made the Blue Tigers hold their heads high by singing so loudly all night long to show how proud they were of their team who fought to the end but the bad luck couldn’t win. It.