Final whistle. India start their campaign with a win over Kuwait. This is the first time India managed to win against Kuwait within the full 90 minutes. Manvir Singh with the goal for India. However, it was Chhangte who came in and changed the speed of the match. He provided the all-important assist for Manvir.
Kuwait vs India - FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifiers, Round 2
Venue: Jaber Al-Ahmad International Stadium, Kuwait City
Time: 10 pm IST
In India, you can watch the match on Sony LIV and Sony Sports 2. The live updates of the match can be seen on FIFA+ as well.
Kuwait | ABDULRAHMAN MARZOUQ, HASAN ALANEZI, KHALED IBRAHIM (C), FAHAD ALHAJERI, ULTAN ALENEZI, REDHA ABUJABARAH, MOBARAK ALFANEENI, SHABAIB ALKHALDI, ATHBI SALEH, MOHSEN GHAREEB, MOHAMMAD ABDULAH
India | Gurpreet Singh Sandhu, Rahul Bheke, Sandesh Jhingan, Akash Mishra, Suresh Wangjam, Manvir Singh, Lalengmawia, Sunil Chhetri, Sahal Abdul Samad, Mahesh Singh Naorem, Nikhil Poojary
Indian captain Sunil Chhetri looked threatening here. He did well to take the ball way but could not do enough to score the first of the match.
Manvir Singh on the right tries his luck from outside the box. However, it is a very weak try from him. Marzouq makes an easy save.
A wild shot from Alfaneeni that goes far away from the goalpost. Gurpreet did not have to do anything other than picking up the ball and kick it again.
Nikhil Poojary's cross from the right flank had found Sunil Chhetri in the right position. Sunil's right-footed shot from the middle of the box, goes over the bar. First chance for India gone begging.
Kuwait won the freekick after Sahal had fouled Saleh 20m outside the box. Saleh takes the freekick but Sandesh was there to negotiate it.
Manvir Singh looking good in right flank as he creating all the space for Indian team.
Mahesh's freekick had nearly found Nikhil Poojary on the edge of the box. It looks like Nikhil had some touch on the ball. It goes straight to Marzouq. Good spell of football for India.
Sunil plays a pass along the pitch to Nikhil Poojary who plays it wide to Suresh on the right. However, Suresh fails to control the ball.
Alhajeri makes a great from to from their half to India's half. His pass to Alfaneeni was nearly accurate but the attacking mid-fielder could not control the ball.
Manvir again had the chance to score from a missed ball by the Kuwaiti defenders. But Kuwaiti defenders were there to nulify the attack.
It is goalless in Kuwait after the first 45 minutes ⚔️
— Sportz Point (@sportz_point) November 16, 2023
Can India score in the second half and the lead?#KUWIND match in #FIFAWorldCup Qualifiers LIVE | https://t.co/0VzcLZ75Mt#BlueTigers #IndianFootball #FIFAWorldCupQualifiers #SunilChhetri #India #Football pic.twitter.com/Y8hgJfqM2b
Nothing much to talk about for both teams in the first half of the Kuwait vs India FIFA World Cup Qualifiers match in Kuwait. India looked more attacking with Manvir and Nikhil doing all the work in right and Mahesh trying to sneak in from left. Sunil Chhetri had the best chance of the match so far but his shot went over the bar to disappoint all the fans watching the match.
A triple change for Kuwait as we start the second half. Faisal Alharbi, Ahmad Zanki and Hamd Alqallaf comes in the second half.
Mohammad Abdulah's free-kick had found Alhajeri unmarked inside the box and his header narrowly misses the target. First chance for the home team.
Shahal's right-footed corner was for Sunil Chhetri and Alanezi was there to make the deflection.
Mahesh Singh's short free-kick found Sunil Chhetri, who was waiting for a volley with the left-foot, failed to execute it.
Lalianzuala Chhangte comes in for Mahesh Singh Naorem for India.
Akash Mishra collides with Zanki and is on the ground. Zanki is also on the ground.
First yellow card of the match. Hamad Alqallaf gets the yellow card for a foul on Manvir Singh.
Suresh tries his luck with a long shot from outside the box. However, he misses the target by a long margin. He apologies to other forwards right after the shot.
Another substation for Kuwait. Alrashidi replaces Shabaib Alkhaldi.
Finally a goal for India. It was Lalianzuala Chhangte who provides the all important assist from the left. His cross from left found Manvir Singh on the right who did not miss the chance to put the ball into the net for India's first goal in Kuwait.
Nearly the equaliser for Kuwait. Gurpreet Singh could not grab Mohammad Abdullah's shot properly. But, there was no one to take the advantage.
Liston Colaco in for Manvir; Thapa in for Sahal Abdul Samad
Alrashidi's shot from left to the box was on target. However, Sandesh was there to deflect the ball for a corner.
Alharbi gets the second yellow of the game. He gets the card for a foul on Anirudh Thapa.
Alharbi gets the second yellow for a high foot gainst Chhangte. He gets the red card. The home team is now left with 10 men.