India vs Kuwait Football Highlights, SAFF Championship: India 1-1 Kuwait; Chhetri scores, Stimac sent off

After chaos, end-to-end football and three red cards, the match finally ends with the match ties at 1-1. Kuwait finishes as the group-topper and will play either Maldives or Bangladesh.

Poojary’s long ball for Udanta almost reaches the BFC winger only to see Alanezi intercept and clear the ball out of danger.

As it seems, India and Kuwait are level on Goal difference and head-to-head (1 draw and GD:+6). But Kuwait is on top as it has scored eight goals as compared to India’s seven.

This means India would play Lebanon while Kuwait will play Bangladesh or Maldives.

Albloushi tries a cross and it hits Anwar Ali to get into India’s own net. Kuwait is level in the last moments of the game.

Sahal Abdul Samad pushed down on the ground by Al Qallaf and Rahim Ali protests with pushing Qallaf down. Both players are sent off by the referee. India and Kuwait down to 10 men.

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Igor Stimac continues complaining to the match officials and the referee reaches to his pocket to show him another red card -- his second in this tournament. That’s two red cards in three matches now!

Sahal tries to makes a run behind the defence but gets caught in the off-side trap as India remains one goal ahead so far.

Meanwhile, Alkhaldi makes a forwward run in the Indian penalty box but Jhingan makes a timely challenge to deny a certain opportunity for the visitors at the Kanteerava Stadium here.

The match looks to get stretched here, amidst Kuwait’s constant attempts to find an equaliser against a defensively resilient back-line.

Jeakson and Sahal pair up in front of the Kuwait box, with the former releasing the KBFC player, who then tries a shot but Al Faneeni makes a crucial block.

Nikhil Poojary crosses from the right flank but Kuwait clears. The ball ultimately gets back to the box as Chhetri wrestles to get to it and earns a corner kick. However, the header from the corner is off-target.

Sahal Abdul Samad is fouled down by Kuwait’s No. 6 Alenezi, who is immediately booked by the referee.

Stimac gets involved in the match physically yet again. Alqallaf pushes Mahesh down and the Indian coach grabs the ball and pauses play as Kuwait’s players surround the referee asking for action. The referee books Stimac. The Croat was sent off in the first game, against Pakistan, and now has a yellow against Kuwait.

In: Rohit Kumar, Sahal Abdul Samad, Out: Anirudh Thapa, Ashique Kuruniyan

The tale of the second half and been much like the first -- an end to and affair with both sides on the verge of scoring. It will be interesting to see it also ends like the first -- with a goal by India.

Alkhaldi takes a free-kick for Kuwait. The shot is on target and Amrinder meets it with equal quality, getting a right glove to it and pushing it out of danger.

Al Rashidi gets the ball in front of India’s box after Kuwait goes for a counter attack. He tries to shoot on the volley but the ball flies off-target.

India attacks on the counter with Anwar threading a pass for Ashique, who fights his marker to stick with teh ball. His cross is met by Mahesh, who keeps the ball in play, crosses it back to Ashique who shoots on the volley to see the ball fly over the net.

Akash Mishra tries to march through the middle of the park for an attack and Al Rashidi catches him from behind and almost pushes him down as the referee gives a free-kick to India.

Al Faneeni, one of Kuwait’s half-time substitutions, gets into a clash with Mahesh after both try to get to the ball. The refere intervenes for peace.

India starts the second half much-like the first, keeping a balanced defence to contain Kuwait.

A goal from Sunil Chhetri in the last moments of the first-half keeps the Blue Tigers ahead, though the coach looks very disappointed with the missed opportunities -- something that could have made the lead ever wider.

India gets the breakthrough from a set-piece. Anirudh Thapa’s corner kick is struck on a side-volley by Sunil Chhetri as India gets the opening goal of the match.

India, scuffle and SAFF Championship 2023 have looked to be a norm in the three games so far. This time, like always, the referee intervenes after a clash of words between Qatar’s captain Aldhefeery and Indian full-back Akash Mishra.

The match has been an end-to-end affair so far. Kuwait, after evading an attack by India, tries a shot from distance with a lobbed strike by Alfahad but Amrinder catches it comfortably.

Kuwait attacks on the counter. Aldhefeery combines with Alrashidi, with the former trying a low left-footed curler into the box. But the shot, after a deflection off the Indian defence, sees Amrinder get to the ball without any fuss at all.

Kuwait’s goalkeeper Marzouq looks to have pulled a muscle as he sits, seeking medical attention. Meanwhile , India coach Stimac continues to deliver instructions to his players.

Mahesh takes the corner kick which was headed just off-target by Anwar Ali as India continues to ask questions to its opponent. So far, India has four shots to just two for Kuwait.

Anwar Ali gets the ball forward to Akash, who gets the ball to Mahesh, whose cross is cleared by Al Harbi.

India is maintaining sort of a chain-like defense line to deny Kuwait any chance to strike. Interestingly, the team practices this routine quite often on Matchday-1. It will be interesting to see if Kuwait can actually breach that wall.

Abujabarah is pushed down by Chhangte and Kuwait gets a free-kick from an important position in front of the box. India, however, heads it our of danger.

Kuwait combines for a smooth counter-attack! Abdullah threds a through ball and gets it back in the box and shoots on target. Amrinder makes a brilliant save to deny a definite goal as the ball goes into the side-netting after hitting the goalkeeper.

Al Harbi goes to the ground after a challenge by Mahesh Singh. Sunik Chhetri and the Indian camp is furious as India was looking to build an attack

India gets the ball rolling with back-passes, building an attack brick-by-brick, looking for a breakthrough against a rigid defence.

Mahesh threads a pass through or Ashique along the left flank but the linesman raises the flag. India gets caught in the off-side trap and loses out on another opportunity to score.

Chhangte gets the ball off Kuwait along the right flank, side-steps his marker and whips in a low cross to the centre for Chhetri but Kuwait clears it yet again.

Thapa steals the ball off Kuwait and gets the ball through to Chhetri. Though Chhetri’s shot is blocked, Mahesh tries a shot but the linesman had his flag up for the midfielder. Mahesh was off-side.

Sandesh Jhingan gets into the book for a late challenge by Alkhaldi. The free-kick, cleared by India has the Blue Tigers attack on the counter. Thapa tries to get the ball to Chhetri but his shot is blocked. Mahesh, then tries to get it through the second time -- succeeds but Chhetri fails to capitalise on the oppportunity then.

Anwar Ali’s lobbed pass for Thapa is somehow stolen from Kuwait. Mahesh tries to get it back into attack but Kuwait stays put, keeping the Men in Blue at bay for now.

Abdullah goes to the ground holding his face after a challenge by Poojary. The referee stops play temporarily and after the player gets back on his feet, play resumes with a drop-ball.

India tries to attack against the run of play. Ashique threads a through ball for Sunil Chhetri in the final third but the goalkeeper, Mazrouq comes out to kick the ball out of danger.

Mahesh takes the corner kick and the ball falls for Anwar Ali, who shoots but Kuwait blocks it. He heads it again but Kuwait, a resilient opponent clears it away this time.

India tries to attack through set-pieces again with Nikhil Poojary running down the right flank nand crossing for Mahesh, but Kuwait intercepts it to get it out for a corner kick/

Sunil Chhetri presses Kuwait’s goalkeeper Marzouq but the No. 1, unlike Pakistan, keeps the ball to his feet and kicks it away.

Mahesh passes to Akash Mishra on the left flank who crosses for Chhetri in the centre. But the Indian forward fails to connect as India looks for a breakthrough.

Anwar Ali tries to deliver a pin-point long ball for Ashique on the right flank but Kuwait’s defence intercepts it, with the goalkeeper catching it finally, ending that development.

Kuwait’s attack continues with Al Rashidi delivering a gorgeous long ball for Abdullah, whose shot flies over the net.

Hamad tries an early attempt in the final third but Akash Mishra clears the ball away as the Blue Tigers look to maintain their impressive record of clean sheets..

The SAFF Championship mathc begins with Anirudh Thapa getting the match underway. India, in blue, starts from right to left while Kuwaitm in yellow, starts from the other side.

Abdulrahman F K M Marzouq, Ahmad A F N J Aldhefeery Aldhefeery, Hasan H Gh H Alanezi, Sultan M S S Alenezi, Mohammad D Kh Abdullah, Shabaib A Sh T Alkhaldi, Eid N D M J H Alrashidi, Hamad A S A S Alharbi, Abdullah Gh A Gh B R Alfahad, Redha H W M A Abujabarah, Hamad T A Kh Alqallaf

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When will the match between India and Kuwait be played?

The match between India and Kuwait will be played on Saturday, June 27. The kick-off is at 7:30 PM IST.

Where can I watch India vs Kuwait SAFF Championship match?

The game between India and Kuwait in the Bangabandhu SAFF Championship 2023 will be streamed live on FanCode on subscription basis. On TV, it can be watched on DD Bharati.

India will face its toughest test yet at the SAFF Championship when it takes on Kuwait in the final Group-A contest at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium here on Tuesday.

Both teams are already into the semifinals after having won their opening two fixtures. But at stake is the position of the table-topper, for which India needs a win and nothing less. A draw will be enough for the visitors, for the sides are tied on goal-difference but Kuwait is ahead on goals scored (7 to 6).

Kuwait may be ranked 143 in the world – 42 places below India – but that number is deceptive at best. The Rui Bento-coached outfit has been impressive this tournament and has looked every bit the side that notched up wins over Tajikistan, Philippines and the United Arab Emirates this year, all higher-ranked opponents.

A good measure of where the India and Kuwait stand can be gauged by how they fared in their respective last matches. India made eight changes against Nepal and struggled, especially in the first half, before winning 2-0. Kuwait shuffled around nine of its players versus Pakistan and still romped home 4-0.

But India can draw strength from the fact that it has not conceded for eight straight games. It is also set to welcome head coach Igor Stimac back to the touchline after his one-match suspension for the red-card offence against Pakistan.

“We made a lot of changes in the last game to make sure we’ve got everybody fit, ready and motivated,” Stimac told AIFF, ahead of the Kuwait match. “Against Nepal, we didn’t execute the first half well as we didn’t stick to the plan.

“We weren’t marking tightly and winning aerial duels. We changed a few things, and the second half worked to perfection. Some phenomenal moves and passing,” the Croat added.

India and Kuwait haven’t met in recent times, so there isn’t any experience to draw upon. The previous tie was in fact a friendly way back in 2010 in Abu Dhabi which the West Asians won by a massive 9-1 margin.

The India of today would like to believe it’s much better than that result. Tuesday is a chance to prove that to a new-age Indian audience.