India vs Kuwait Football Highlights, SAFF Championship 2023: Late goal thwarts India in 1-1 draw against Kuwait

India and Kuwait played a thrilling match in the SAFF Championship 2023. The game ended in a 1-1 draw, with Kuwait emerging as the winners of Group A and India securing the second position. The match saw two goals scored during stoppage time, one in each half. In the first half, Sunil Chhetri scored a goal for India just before halftime, giving them a deserving 1-0 lead. However, both teams faced some tense moments after receiving red cards. Eventually, in the second half stoppage time, Kuwait managed to equalize with an own goal from India's Anwar Ali.India's hopes of topping Group A in the SAFF Championship 2023 were dashed as they had to settle for a 1-1 draw against Kuwait in a heated match at Bengaluru's Sree Kanteerava Stadium. Both teams ended the game with ten players, and India's coach, Igor Stimac, was sent off for using objectionable language towards the match officials.

Stimac, who had just returned to the touchline after serving a one-match ban, made six changes to the team that defeated Nepal 2-0. The likes of Amrinder Singh, Sandesh Jhingan, and Anwar Ali returned to the starting lineup. India deployed Ashique Kuruniyan in a withdrawn role behind captain Sunil Chhetri, effectively neutralizing Kuwait's Sultan Alenezi's influence on the game.

India pressed high but struggled to create clear-cut chances early on. It was actually Kuwait who had the first significant opportunity when Mohammad Abdullah found himself one-on-one with goalkeeper Amrinder, who made a crucial save.

India's best chances in the first half came from set-pieces, with Anwar Ali missing a header off an Anirudh Thapa corner. However, Chhetri made no mistake moments later. With clever positioning, he struck a powerful volley from the penalty spot to give India the lead.

India continued their dominance in the early stages of the second half, but Ashique and Chhetri couldn't convert their half-chances. As the game progressed, it seemed like India was managing the match well until Stimac's red card changed the momentum.

The Croatian coach, who had already been booked, received his second yellow card and was sent off. The match witnessed another altercation between Rahim Ali and Hamad Alqallaf, resulting in both players being sent off.

In the closing moments of the game, Kuwait managed to equalize. A well-worked passing move between Salman Mohammad and Abdullah Albloushi led to a delivery into the box. Unfortunately for India, Anwar misjudged his left-footed shot, inadvertently putting the ball into his own net.

With India finishing second in the group, they are likely to face Lebanon in the semifinals, having already played them twice earlier in the month at the Intercontinental Cup.