Tag: India vs Kuwait

BENGALURU: Sunil Chhetri-led India edged Kuwait 5-4 on the penalty shoot-out at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium to win the SAFF Championship 2023 after the nailbiting final finished 1-1 at the end of extra time.

Kuwait started the high-stake match on a high as the invitee side found the breakthrough in the 15th minute, courtesy of a fine finish by Shabib Al Khaldi.

India, backed up by a raucous home crowd, reacted in style, peppering the Kuwait box with assaults before Lallianzuala Chhangte levelled for the hosts at the 40-minute mark.

Both teams were unable to add to their first-half goals, and the enthralling SAFF Championship final between India and Kuwait entered into extra time.

The two sides remained inseparable despite the completion of the extra time and remained tied at 1-1 at the 120-minute mark.

Indian captain Sunil Chhetri stood up for his side to take the first penalty kick and cannoned it into the back of the net after the ball deflected from the left side of the crossbar.

Click to watch SAFF Championship Live on ARY ZAP

Mohammad Abdullah Daham took the first penalty for Kuwait but his decision to opt for power went against his will as the ball went over the top after thudding onto the crossbar.

India’s Sandesh Jinghan and Lallianzuala Chhangte and Kuwait’s Fawaz Al Otaibi and Ahmed Al-Dheflri all fired the ball at the back of the net as India’s lead remained intact.

India’s Udanta Singh Kumam made a costly error when he scooped the ball over to pave the way for Kuwait to make a comeback after missing the first penalty.

With both sides levelled at 4-4, Subhasish Bose held his nerves calm to deliver under pressure before Indian goalkeeper Gurpreet Singh Sandhu made a diving effort to stop Khalid El Ebrahim’s strike and powered India to a thrilling victory.

The victory propelled India to their record-extending ninth SAFF Championship title victory.

READ: Ireland edge Nepal to finish seventh in CWC Qualifier

BENGALURU: A late own goal by Anwar Ali in the stoppage time restricted India to settle for a 1-1 draw against Kuwait after an ill-tempered South Asian Football Federation (SAFF) Championship last Group A fixture on Tuesday.

Hosts, India got an upper hand just at the stroke of the half-time when Sunil Chhetri opened the scoring by converting the corner with great ease.

A corner coming from the right landed perfectly for an unmarked Sunil Chhetri inside the box, who made no mistake to guide it into the nets.

Tensions erupted in both camps during the second half when India’s head coach Igor Stimac received his second red card of the tournament.

The tensions persisted as the game continued and India’s Rahim Ali and Kuwait’s Hamad Al Qallaf were also given the send-off in the 90th minute.

With the completion of the regulation time, India were looking favourites to register a close 1-0 victory over Kuwait.

However, Kuwait then received unexpected support and equalised in the stoppage time, courtesy of an own goal by Anwar Ali.

Amrinder Singh had little opportunity to save the ball after a low cross from the right took a deflection off Anwar’s leg and landed in the far corner of the post.

India captain Sunil Chhetri was disappointed with the result but backed his teammate, Anwar, stating an error such as this can happen to anyone.

“It’s not Anwar, it is the country that conceded,” said Chhetri.

“It can happen to anyone. We didn’t even talk about it now (after the match) and we are all professional enough to not talk about it. I hope the kid shrugs it off, we all have his back as it can happen to anyone,” he added.

Following the 1-1 stalemate, both India and Kuwait remained unbeaten in the group stage but the latter occupied the top Group A standings due to superior goals scored.

READ: Climate activists disrupt second Ashes Test