India vs Kuwait, SAFF Championship: IND 1-1 KUW at Full Time — Highlights
Sunil Chhetri scored his 92nd international goal to put India 1-0 up in the 45th minute. Anwar Ali scored an own goal to make it 1-1 at full time.
India will face Iraq in Kings Cup (AIFF)
The Indian football team played out a 1-1 draw against Kuwait in the final group match of the 2023 South Asian Football Federation (SAFF) Championship at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium in Bengaluru on Tuesday.
Sunil Chhetri scored in added time of the first half to put India 1-0 up. There were three red cards shown in the second half - Rahim Ali and coach Igor Stimac included - before an own goal by Anwar Ali against the run of play in added time in the second half restored parity.
Both teams have already qualified for the semifinals with 7 points from 3 matches. However, India are behind Kuwait on goals scored and will face the toppers of Group B in the semifinals.
As it happened:
Udanta Singh the star of added time in the second half with his flashy runs down the right wing. Kuwait do not manage to mount an attack in the dying stages. India will be disappointed to lose their lead in such an unfortunate matter.
India finish 2nd in the group. The semifinals beckon, possibly Lebanon lie in wait.
8 minutes of added time.
Disaster! Anwar Ali puts in an own goal after trying to clear in a lazy cross. Out of the blue, India have conceded. All the Indian players mill around Anwar after that freak of a goal.
Some more yellow cards flashed at the Kuwait bench as the match descends into absolute chaos.
India 1-1 Kuwait
With two minutes left on the clock, a full-blown fight breaks out. This was always coming. Sahal falling to the ground after an alleged foul breaks the uneasy peace. The two sets of players rush at each other, as do the two benches. Rahim Ali pushes Al Khalaf on to the floor to take revenge for Sahal.
Two red cards! Rahim Ali and Al Khalaf both sent off. That's 3 red cards for this match!
Amrinder pulls out a stunning save in the 85th minute! Palms away a shot drilled in after Nikhil Poojary is left for dead by a dummy in the box.
Stimac was always supposed to be coming to the end of his India tenure, but nobody expected he would have to watch India's matches from the stands in his last leg with the team. It's another red card for Stimac - presumably for trying to motivate the fans (?!) - at least that's what the commentators think.
Mahesh Gawli steps in again and he is also seen in an argument with the 4th official.
Jhingan to the rescue! Kuwait were through...for one rare time, Amrinder prepared to go one-on-one with the advancing forward. But Jhingan swoops in like a surgeon and takes the ball away. Danger averted!
Jeakson Singh gets two great chances in one minute! First gets a shot blocked into a corner. Then it's him who rises above everyone else to head a corner - just like 6 years ago - but it's just wide.
Now Jeakson sets up Sahal. Shoots! Blocked into the corner.
Well well, the Croatian is making a habit of this. His old fellow CB Slaven Bilic would be pleased. Stimac picks up the ball, leading to some Kuwait players trying to gang up on him. The Indians make a protective ring around the Croatian. At the end of it all, some time has been wasted and Stimac has another booking.
Kuwait test Amrinder with a direct free kick. That's a rare attack in a half where India are asserting more and more pressure. 'Let's go India!' shouts reverbrate around Bangalore as Thapa walks up to take his millionth corner of the night.
Mahesh now in an argument with a Kuwaiti player. A few seconds later, Akash Mishra in an argument. A stop-start beginning to the half. India get their first long ball into the Kuwait box to get the crowd excited, but the defender clears with ease.
Still, India 1-0 Kuwait
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