Xtra Time Web Desk : India drew the match against Kuwait in a thrilling encounter in the SAFF Bangabandhu Championship 2023. The match ended with a 1-1 scoreline, with Sunil Chhetri scoring for India and Anwar Ali equalizing for Kuwait with a own-goal.
It was a great opportunity for India to secure an easy spot in the semifinals from the top of the group, but it didn’t happen. In a match held on Tuesday, India settled for a draw against Kuwait despite taking the lead.
The match was evenly contested, although Kuwait started with an aggressive approach, India quickly made a comeback. However, physical battles between the two teams disrupted the game’s flow and caused frequent interruptions.
Kuwait had a significant chance in the 25th minute when Amrinder Singh saved Abdullah’s shot on a counter-attack. Still, Sunil Chhetri scored a goal in the additional time of the first half, giving India the lead. Indian captain Sunil Chettri scored a brilliant goal from a corner by Anirudh Thapa.
The intensity of the game increased in the second half. Due to time-wasting tactics, India’s head coach Igor Stimac received a yellow card in the 62nd minute. And in the 81st minute, referee showed a red card directly to Stimac after a heated argument. In the 90th minute, Rahim Ali tackled Kuwait’s Al-Qallaf, resulting in both Qallaf and Rahim receiving red cards from the referee.
However, drama unfolded in extra time. In the 92nd minute, Albloushi’s cross hit Anwar Ali and the ball went in as an own goal. Despite late efforts, India couldn’t score the winning goal.
As a result, India will now have to face Lebanon in the semifinals without head coach Stimac and forward Rahim Ali.