Quotes from players and coaches:
"We are disappointed not to have won
the match, but we are still confident of reaching the final,"
said India captain Sunil Chhetri. "We need to improve our
discipline in the semifinals, but if we can do that, we will be confident of
reaching our first final since 2015."
"We are happy with the draw,"
said Kuwait coach Paulo Bento. "We knew India would be a tough
opponent, but we played well and created chances. We are confident of winning
the semifinals and the final."
Statistics about the match:
Possession : India 56%, Kuwait 44%
Shots
on goal : India 11, Kuwait 8
Fouls : India 12, Kuwait 14
Analysis of the key moments in the match:
The key moment of the match came in the
39th minute, when Sunil Chhetri scored his 84th international goal to give
India the lead. The goal came from a corner kick, which Chhetri volleyed into
the net from close range.
The other key moment of the match came in
the 90th minute, when Anwar Ali scored an own goal to equalize for Kuwait. The
goal came from a corner kick, which Ali headed into his own net.
Predictions
for the semifinals and final:
India will face Bangladesh in the
semifinals on Friday. Bangladesh is the host team and has been playing well in
the tournament. However, India has a more experienced team and will be the favorites
to win the match.
The final will be between India and
Nepal. Nepal is the defending champion and has been playing well in the
tournament. However, India has a better team on paper and will be the favorites
to win the match.
Historical context of the match:
This was the 13th meeting between India
and Kuwait in the SAFF Championship. India has won seven of the previous
meetings, while Kuwait has won three. The two teams have drawn three times.
India has won the SAFF Championship eight
times, while Kuwait has won once. India is the most successful team in the
history of the tournament.
Background information about the SAFF
Championship:
The SAFF Championship is a football
tournament for the South Asian Football Federation (SAFF). It is the oldest
international football tournament in South Asia.
The first SAFF Championship was held in
1993. India has won the tournament eight times, while Nepal has won once.
The current champion is Nepal, which won
the 2021 tournament.
India and Kuwait played to a 1-1 draw in
their final Group A match of the SAFF Championship on Tuesday. The match was
played at the Bangabandhu National Stadium in Dhaka, Bangladesh.
India took the lead in the 39th minute
through Sunil Chhetri, who scored his 84th international goal. Kuwait equalized
in the 90th minute through an own goal by Anwar Ali.
The match was marred by a number of
controversial decisions by the referee. In the 70th minute, India head coach
Igor Stimac was sent off for arguing with the referee. In the 88th minute,
Kuwait's Fahad Al Ansari was also sent off for a second yellow card.
The draw leaves India in second place in
Group A, behind Nepal. India will now face Bangladesh in the semifinals on
Friday.
Here are some of the key highlights of the
match:
Sunil Chhetri scored his 84th
international goal to give India the lead in the 39th minute.
Anwar Ali scored an own goal to equalize
for Kuwait in the 90th minute.
India head coach Igor Stimac was sent off
for arguing with the referee in the 70th minute.
Kuwait's Fahad Al Ansari was sent off for
a second yellow card in the 88th minute.
The match was a physical and tense
affair, with both teams creating chances. India had the better of the first
half, but Kuwait came out stronger in the second half. The match was ultimately
decided by two moments of individual brilliance, with Chhetri scoring a great
goal for India and Ali scoring an unfortunate own goal for Kuwait.
The draw is a fair result, and it leaves
India in a good position to reach the final of the SAFF Championship. India
will need to improve their discipline in the semifinals, but if they can do
that, they will be confident of reaching their first final since 2015.
India started the match brightly and
created several chances in the early stages. Chhetri had a great opportunity to
score in the 12th minute, but his shot was saved by Kuwait goalkeeper Fahad Al
Rashidi.
Kuwait began to grow into the game as the
half wore on and created a few chances of their own. However, India's defense
held firm and they went into the break with a 1-0 lead.
India came out of the second half with
renewed energy and created several more chances. However, they were unable to
add to their lead and Kuwait began to take control of the game.
In the 88th minute, Kuwait's Fahad Al
Ansari was sent off for a second yellow card. India looked to take advantage of
their numerical superiority, but they were unable to find a winner.
In the 90th minute, Kuwait equalized
through an own goal by Anwar Ali. The goal came from a corner kick, which Ali
headed into his own net.
The match ended in a 1-1 draw, which was
a fair result. India will be disappointed not to have won the match, but they
will still be confident of reaching the final of the SAFF Championship. They
will need to improve their discipline in the semifinals, but if they can do
that, they will be confident of reaching their first final since 2015.
