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SAFF Championship 2023: India finished second in Group A after drawing against Kuwait by 1-1 scoreline
India held a draw against Kuwait by a 1-1 score line to finish 2nd in the SAFF Championship tournament 2023 group at Sree Kanteerava Stadium, Bengaluru, on June 27th, 2023.
It was an intense and heated match for the Indian football team, filled with drama from beginning to end. Sunil Chhetri, the team’s star striker, scored a crucial goal just before halftime with a superb volley. India looked poised to win the match and top their group. However, their hopes were dashed by a devastating own goal from Anwar Ali in injury time.
India started the game aggressively, pressuring Kuwait and causing them problems in their defensive and midfield areas. Naorem Mahesh Singh, who had scored in the previous match, continued to trouble the opposition from the left wing. In the early minutes, he delivered a great cross to Akash Mishra, but unfortunately, Chhetri missed connecting with it by a narrow margin.
India had several chances from set-pieces throughout the match. One of these opportunities came from a corner taken by Mahesh, which Kuwait failed to clear. Anwar Ali had a chance to score, but his shot was weak and easily blocked on the goal line.
As the game progressed, Kuwait grew into the match and started to create their own chances. Shabaib Al-Khaldi had a shot that went over the crossbar in the 20th minute. Soon after, Amrinder Singh, India’s goalkeeper, made an excellent save to deny Mohammad Abdullah’s close-range effort, set up by Al-Khaldi.
India continued to pose a threat from set-pieces, and Anwar had another opportunity from a corner taken by Thapa. However, it was Chhetri who made the breakthrough just before halftime. He cleverly found space in Kuwait’s defense and volleyed the ball into the net from 12 yards out. It was a brilliant finish by the Indian captain.
In the second half, Kuwait came out with renewed determination to equalize. Despite their efforts, India remained strong in defense, frustrating their opponents. Amrinder made a fantastic save, tipping Al-Khaldi’s free-kick over the crossbar in the 57th minute.
Jhingan displayed his defensive prowess with a strong tackle on Al-Khaldi, who was through on goal. The crowd showed their appreciation for Jhingan’s efforts. However, frustration got the better of coach Stimac, and he was sent off for arguing with the referee, marking his second expulsion from the tournament.
India had a chance to seal the victory through substitute Rohit Kumar, but he missed the target from close range. Amrinder made another impressive save, pushing away a powerful shot from Al-Khaldi.
Tempers flared towards the end of the match, resulting in red cards for players from both teams. Unfortunately, in a cruel twist of fate, India’s clean-sheet streak ended with an own goal in injury time. Anwar Ali’s attempt to clear a harmless-looking cross ended up in India’s net.
Despite the disappointment, the crowd at Kanteerava Stadium showed unwavering support for the Indian team, cheering loudly and demonstrating their pride in their fighting spirit. It was a match filled with ups and downs, and while luck was not on India’s side, they can hold their heads high for their courageous performance.
