Sunil Chhetri scored a superb goal but India’s late own goal helped Kuwait to draw 1-1 in the final Group A encounter of the Bangabandhu SAFF Championship 2023 at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium here on Tuesday. In a fast and furious contest from start to finish, Sunil Chhetri’s 92nd international goal, a clinical volley put India ahead on the stroke of half-time. They came close but could not add more goals to their tally. However, an unfortunate own goal from Anwar Ali in second-half injury time put a sad and unfortunate end to India’s hopes of topping the group.
Sunil Chhetri is a national treasure! https://t.co/sP7WdmMXeH– Baby (brilliantly entertaining, delicious) (@kringeshwarao) 27 June 2023
India started aggressively and suffocated Kuwait with their pressure in the final and middle third. Naorem Mahesh Singh, who scored his first international goal in the previous match, was causing all kinds of trouble down the left wing. In the fifth minute, he picked out Akash Mishra on the overlap and the left-back sent a charming delivery down the middle, just beyond the reach of Sunil Chhetri.
India were prone to set-pieces throughout the match, 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 suffered a setback in the 14th minute when Sandesh Jhingan’s flying challenge on Eid Al-Rashidi saw him booked and suspended for Saturday’s semi-final.
Kuwait slowly progressed into the game and got their first real chance in the 20th minute when Shabab Al-Khaldi fired a loose ball over the crossbar. Five minutes later, after a clever pass from Al-Khaldi, Amarinder Singh made a brilliant save to block Mohammad Abdullah’s shot from close range.
India were looking increasingly dangerous from dead-ball situations, and while Kuwait heaved a sigh of relief when Anwar headed wide from a Thapa corner, Chhetri made sure it would not happen the next time it was asked. Moments before half-time, facing another Thapa corner, the captain, hiding almost in plain sight against Kuwait’s zonal marking, cleared the ball into the back of the net with a side-footed volley from 12 yards. . Just one chance is enough for Sunil Chhetri to take India forward.
As expected, Kuwait came out with great alacrity after the break, and although Rui Bento’s team were allowed to see more of the ball, India continued to dominate the defensive third. In the 57th minute, Al-Khaldi’s free-kick was brilliantly blocked by Amrinder. Attack is the best form of defence, and as trite as it sounds, Igor Stimac’s men operated that way for the greater part of the second half. Mahesh, who had swapped places with Lallianzuala Changte after the restart, struck a high cross from the right that went to Ashiq Kurunian, who blasted a volley just over the bar from a tight angle.
Jackson Singh Thounaojam then had the next few chances for India. Firstly, he saw his effort blocked by Sultan Al-Anzey before heading in Chhangte’s cross from the resulting corner. Jhingan once again exposed India’s defensive prowess with a blistering strike on Al-Khaldi, who was sent clean through on goal. Kanteerava was loud in his appreciation for the 29-year-old. As the game reached its final ten minutes, Stimac was shown a red card after an argument with referee Alomgir, sending the Croatian off for the second time in the tournament.
Substitute Rohit Kumar had a great chance to seal the win for the Blue Tigers but could only curl Udanta’s low cross from just outside the six-yard box. In the 84th minute, Amrinder added another strong save to his solid display in goal when he kept down Al-Khaldi’s powerful left-footed strike. Tempers continued to mount after Stimac was dismissed after fouling Sahal Abdul Samad in the Kuwait half, and the West Asians prevented an early restart, resulting in a scuffle, after which Hamad Al-Kallaf and Rahim Ali were shown red. of was shown. However, it was a brutal end to India’s seven-match clean-sheet. Abdullah Al-Bloushi’s harmless-looking cross from the right was deflected into the Indian net as Anwar Ali tried to clear it.
While the visuals on the pitch were unfortunate, the Kanteerava crowd made sure to keep the Blue Tigers’ heads held high, chanting their loudest slogans all night to show how proud they were of their team who fought till the end but were unlucky to lose. Couldn’t win it.