SAFF Championship: India vs Kuwait Live Blog, news, Live updates, and Match Report

India and Kuwait played a 1-1 draw at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium, Bengaluru after a chaotic 90 minutes in the SAFF Championship 2023. The second half was full of drama, which ended in favour of Kuwait. India got the lead during the later stages of the first half courtesy of Sunil Chhetri who claimed his 92nd goal. Igor Stimac received his second red card in the tournament and he had to leave the field again. Alqallaf and Rahim Ali were also shown the red card and then Kuwait found their equaliser from an own goal of Anwar Ali. Kuwait finished in the first position with the same amount of points and goal difference as India.

Read Also: SAFF Championship 2023: Pakistan leave India without scoring a goal; lost against Nepal by 1-0

SAFF Championship: India vs Kuwait Match Report

First half:

India couldn't dominate like the other matches as Kuwait gave them a fair fight right from the beginning. The match was direct, the manager's approaches were direct & clear and that was pretty much visible. The match was fifty fifty and both teams weren't looking sharp or at their best. The game was physical, there was so much drama and it was pretty obvious because of the intensity it carries. Indian Skipper, Sunil Chhetri was ahead of everyone. He scored his 92nd goal and the fifth in the SAFF Championship 2023 in the 45th minute to give India a much-needed lead before halftime.

Second half:

The second half was also the same as the first one but more physical. Kuwait were trying to open the backline of India but they are failing continuously. Right as the game entered the final ten minutes, Stimac saw a red card after an argument with referee Alomgir. Substitute Rohit Kumar had a glorious opportunity to secure the win for the Blue Tigers but could only sky Udanta's low cross from just outside the six-yard box. Amrinder added another strong save to his solid performance in goal as he pushed away a fierce left-footed strike from Al-Khaldi in the 84th minute. Tempers continued to flare after Stimac's sending off after Sahal Abdul Samad was fouled in the Kuwait half and the West Asians prevented a quick restart, resulting in a scuffle, after which Hamad Al-Qallaf and Rahim Ali were shown red.

Abdullah Al-Bloushi's harmless-looking cross from the right deflected into the Indian net as Anwar Ali tried to hook it clear. The match ended with a 1-1 scoreline at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium, Bengaluru. Kuwait finished in the first position with the same amount of points and goal difference as India.

"I think it's normal. The coach and players on the bench are passionate and sometimes it happens. We need to understand that we are people and sometimes we lose control over our emotions," the Kuwait coach said on the sideline situation.

SAFF Championship 2023: India vs Kuwait | Live Blog | Lineups | 7:00 P.M.

India:

• AMRINDER SINGH (GK)
• SUNIL CHHETRI (C)
• ANWAR ALI
• SANDESH JHINGAN
• AKASH MISHRA
• ANIRUDH THAPA
• MAHESH SINGH NAOREM
• JEAKSON SINGH THOUNAOJAM
• LALLIANZUALA CHHANGTE
• NIKHIL CHANDRASHEKHAR POOJARY
• MUHAMMED KURUNIYAN

Kuwait:

• ABDULRAHMAN MARZOUQ (GK)
• AHMAD AL-DHEFEERY (C)
• ALDHEFEERY
• HASAN H GH H ALANEZI
• SULTAN AL- ENEZI
• MOHAMMAD ABDULLAH
• SHABAIB AL-KHALDI
• EID AL-RASHIDI
• HAMAD AL-HARBI
• ABDULLAH AL-FAHAD
• REDHA ABUJABARAH
• HAMAD AL-QALLAF

Getting loose before the group decider 🤩💪🏽

Watch live on @FanCode and DD Bharati 📱📺 #SAFFChampionship2023 🏆 #INDKUW ⚔️ #IndianFootball ⚽️ #BlueTigers 🐯 pic.twitter.com/4Nz86vsgcJ

— Indian Football Team (@IndianFootball) June 27, 2023

India vs Kuwait | Live Blog | 7:28 P.M.

The players are out of the tunnel. The game is all set to begin

KICKOFF AT THE KANTEERAVA 💙👏🏽

Watch live on @FanCode and DD Bharati 📱📺 #SAFFChampionship2023 🏆 #INDKUW ⚔️ #IndianFootball ⚽️ #BlueTigers 🐯 pic.twitter.com/W20D1fMniH

— Indian Football Team (@IndianFootball) June 27, 2023

SAFF Championship 2023: India vs Kuwait | Live Blog | 7:30 P.M. | 1′ | Kick off

First half begins

India vs Kuwait | Live Blog | 5'

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.

India vs Kuwait | Live Blog | 10' | Shot blocked

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 vs Kuwait | Live Blog | 16′ | Jhingan into the book

Sandesh Jhingan gets into the book for a late challenge by Alkhaldi. 

India vs Kuwait | Live Blog | 17' | Chance for India

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.

India vs Kuwait | Live Blog | 19'

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.

India vs Kuwait | Live Blog | 25' | Chance for Kuwait

Kuwait combines for a smooth counter-attack. Abdullah provides 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.

India vs Kuwait | Live Blog | 30' | Foul

Abujabarah is pushed down by Chhangte and Kuwait gets a free-kick from an important position in front of the box

India vs Kuwait | Live Blog | 38'

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.

SAFF Championship 2023: India vs Kuwait | Live Blog | 45' | Goallll!!.. for India

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.

45+2' GOOOOAAAAL!! Who else, but the man himself! @chetrisunil11 🔥

A side-footed volley off a @AnirudhThapa corner, and the ball nestles into the back of the net 🥅

🇮🇳 1-0 🇰🇼#INDKUW ⚔️ #SAFFChampionship2023 🏆 #BlueTigers 🐯 #IndianFootball ⚽ pic.twitter.com/gwMzNPSWoL

— Indian Football Team (@IndianFootball) June 27, 2023

India (1) vs Kuwait (0)| Live Blog | Half time

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.

SAFF Championship 2023: India vs Kuwait | Live Blog | 46' | Second Half Lick off

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

India vs Kuwait | Live Blog | 48' | Foul

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.

India vs Kuwait | Live Blog | 51' | Chance for India Good save by Amrinder

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

India vs Kuwait | Live Blog | 57' | Good save by Amrinder

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

India vs Kuwait | Live Blog | 61' | Double change for India

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

India vs Kuwait | Live Blog | 63' | Stimac gets a yellow card

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.

India vs Kuwait | Live Blog | 67' | Drama

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

India vs Kuwait | Live Blog | 71' | Block by Kuwait

Al Faneeni makes a crucial block

India vs Kuwait | Live Blog | 77'

Sahal tries to make 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 forward 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.

India vs Kuwait | Live Blog | 81' | Stimac sent off, again Double red cards

Igor Stimac continues complaining to the match officials and the referee reaches into his pocket to show him another red card.

India vs Kuwait | Live Blog | 90' | Double red cards Own goal! India 1-1 Kuwait

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

India vs Kuwait | Live Blog | 90' | Own Goalll!!!!.. Kuwait got their goal

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.

SAFF Championship 2023: India (1) vs Kuwait (1) | Live Blog | Full time

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

Extremely unfortunate result in the end.

After dominating the game for more than 90 minutes, the #BlueTigers 🐯 had to settle for a draw 😔#INDKUW ⚔️ #SAFFChampionship2023 🏆 #IndianFootball ⚽ pic.twitter.com/2rj2fyBAf4

— Indian Football Team (@IndianFootball) June 27, 2023