By India Today Sports Desk: India have been held 1-1 within the ultimate group stage match of the SAFF Cup on Tuesday on the Sree Kanteerava Stadium in Bangalore. An ill-temepered recreation noticed three pink playing cards, out of which two have been proven to gamers from every workforce and the opposite one was given to India head coach Igor Stimac. India got the lead late within the first half by an outstanding facet volley by captain Sunil Chhetri, however conceded late within the stoppage time of the sport.
A low cross from the precise facet of the sphere deflected off defender Anwar Ali within the added time of the second half spoiled the house facet’s march. This was additionally the primary purpose India conceded in 9 matches. The outcome meant that India and Kuwait ended up on seven factors however the latter topped Group A on a greater purpose common.
India will play Lebanon within the semifinal whereas Kuwait will tackle both Bangladesh or Maldives. Lebanon are ranked forward of India in FIFA rankings and at the moment stand in 99tth place.
India did effectively to organise their assaults via the wings. The Blue Tigers practically went forward within the sixth minute however Chhetri failed to attach with a cross from Akash Mishra by a whisker. Kuwait too had their very own probability when Shadab Al Khaldi’s ripper of a shot from simply outdoors the field went inches over the bar within the twentieth minute.
But, slowly however absolutely, India snatched the management of the match they usually may have netted the primary purpose within the thirty fifth minute however Anwar Ali’s header off an Anirudh Thapa nook lacked the specified course.
India’s persistent tries bore fruit within the harm time. Thapa took a relatively low flag kick from the precise facet and Chhetri effected an aesthetic, tumbling volley to beat Kuwait goalkeeper Abdul Rahman, whose determined dive went in useless.
It was Chhetri’s fifth purpose of this match from three matches and total twenty fourth purpose in 26 SAFF championship matches.
Armed with a 1-0 lead, India went forward in full steam within the second half however noticed their head coach Igor Stimac being despatched off with a pink card, second time on this match.
Stimac who had been into arguments with Kuwait gamers and the fourth official earlier than within the recreation, engaged in an animated argument after Sahal Abdul Samad was shoved within the second half. Samad, who had nearly struck a Kuwait participant with a excessive boot was shoved by Hamad Al Qallaf which started the meltdown between the 2 groups.
India ahead Rahim Ali got here to guard Samad and gave a tough push to Qallaf who was thrown into the grounnd. The Croatian copped a pink card from the incident after he was earlier given marching orders within the match in opposition to Pakistan for interrupting their participant from taking a throw-in.
India will hope to regroup after a unsatisfactory finish to the match and put in aa good present in opposition to Lebanon on July 1.
