Ratings: Chhetri brilliant, but India denied win in SAFF Championship 2023 by late equaliser

India's clean-sheet tally came to an end against Kuwait.

India finished the group stages of the 2023 SAFF Championship as the runners up of Group A behind leaders Kuwait despite being level on points. The Blue Tigers played out an entertaining 1-1 draw against Kuwait at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium in Bengaluru to wrap up the group stage fixtures.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mnRDHAz2BEE

The Blue Tigers opened the scoring with Sunil Chhetri scoring his 92nd goal for India late in the first half. India dominated the majority of the game but Kuwait found their way back courtesy of an own goal by Anwar Ali. The referee showed a red card to India’s head coach Igor Stimac and also gave marching orders to India’s Rahim Ali and Kuwait’s Al Qaffaf.

https://youtu.be/YXvAtg9EsAE

On that note, let us take a look at how the players performed.

India (By Yash Pratap Singh)

Amrinder Singh (GK) - 8.0

Amrinder put up another great display under the bar. The keeper pulled off a finger tip save from a direct free-kick followed by a punch out from a corner. He came off his line multiple times to clear away the danger from Kuwait. Moreover, he also pulled off an amazing save in the closing stages of the game.

Nikhil Poojary - 8.0

The right-back made overlapping runs and even delivered good looking balls into the box. Nikhil defended really well and was running up and down the right flank to contribute on either end.

Sandesh Jhingan - 8.0

Sandesh came prepared and executed his tackles with pinpoint accuracy. He also made crucial interceptions in his own defensive third to deny Kuwait an opening. Jhingan was always perfect with his last ditch tackles and challenges.

Anwar Ali - 7.5

Formed a great partnership with Jhingan yet again. He was good with his distribution and maintained a good passing accuracy. Anwar came up with interceptions and blocks at crucial moments throughout the game. He ended up scoring an own goal as well.

Akash Mishra - 8.0

He made overlapping runs into the box and combined very well with Naorem Mahesh Singh and Ashique Kuruniyan on the left flank. He defended well but his attacking prowess was used more by the Blue Tigers. He went ahead and delivered good balls inside Kuwait’s box.

Naorem Mahesh Singh - 8.0

He was a livewire throughout the game. Mahesh was busy running up and down challenging the Kuwait players and was India’s creative spark in attack. He won duels and created a number of chances in the centre as well as on the left flank. A great performance by him.

Anirudh Thapa - 8.0

Thapa did his routine midfield duties with perfection. He won duels, played crucial passes and linked up well with both attack and defence. He was assigned with the dead ball duties for the Blue Tigers and that’s how he created India’s opening goal through a corner and assisted Chhetri.

Jeakson Singh - 8.0

Jeakson was heavily involved in both defence and attack. He controlled the tempo of the game in the middle and even helped his defenders at the back. Moreover, he also went forward and made good moves in attack. He had a shot on target blocked and a couple of headers went off target.

Lallianzuala Chhangte - 7.5

Chhangte wasn’t involved much in the attack. But he did come back and helped his teammates to avert danger. Chhangte was later assigned to take the free-kicks and corners for India and he did a pretty good job with that.

Sunil Chhetri - 9.0

Chhetri was just doing what he does best. He scored his 92nd goal for India and his fifth at the tournament. Not just that, Chhetri was everywhere. He dropped in deep to link up play and chased every ball that went into Kuwait’s penalty box. Overall, a phenomenal performance from the skipper.

Ashique Kuruniyan - 7.5

He operated on either wing and even shifted to the centre at times. Ashique played through balls and created good looking opportunities for his side. He combined well with Akash Mishra and troubled Kuwait’s defenders.

Substitutes

Rohit Kumar - 7.0

He came on to replace Anirudh Thapa midway through the second half. Rohit was good with his ball distribution and played key passes up front in the process. He was very good with his movements with the ball. 

Sahal Abdul Samad - 7.0

Sahal was brought on to replace Ashique Kuruniyan in the second half. He immediately started his magical moves. He combined well with Jeakson up front and even saw a shot on goal blocked.

Udanta Singh - 7.0

He came on to replace Lallianzuala Chhangte late in the second half. He came in and started disturbing Kuwait with his pace and trickery. He sent in a ball in the box but Rohit couldn’t connect well to it. Overall, he put in a good shift.

Rahim Ali - N/A

He came on to replace India’s skipper Sunil Chhetri. His shift was cut short as he was shown a red card late in the game.

Kuwait (By Riddhiman Sarkar)

Abdulrahman Marzouq (GK) - 6

Made two clearances, one while rushing out and the other by acrobatically punching out a corner. Couldn’t do anything about Chhetri’s goal.

Abdullah Al Fahad - 6

Did a modest job in defending dangerous through balls but was not too influential going forward. Replaced by Abdulla Al Buloushi in the 56th minute.

Hamad Al Harbi - 7

Rock solid at the back as he dealt with the likes of Mahesh and Chhetri strongly, courtesy some crunching tackles. Easily Kuwait's best defender as he also made some last-ditch clearances from crosses and swept up loose balls. Went off for Khaled Hajiah in the 56th minute.

Hasan Al Enezi - 6.5

Less active than his counterpart but still managed to put up an error-free display.

Hamad Al Qallaf - 5

Bombed forward more often, trying to release the swift Mohammad Daham and was reliable in possession. Involved in a spat with Rahim Ali and Sahal after pushing the latter to the ground, following Sahal’s high-boot offence. The same led to his sending off with a straight red.

Sultan Al Enezi - 5.5

Played some visually pleasing one-twos at times but couldn't really be the deep-lying playmaker he had to be. Instead he committed multiple fouls and seemed to disrupt Kuwait’s otherwise steady gameplay. 

Redha Hani - 6

The number six often dribbled too much in his own half, conceding possession to Chhangte and Kuruniyan. Taken off in the 65th minute for Fawaz Ayedh to enter the fray.

Eid Al Rashidi - 5.5

Pocketed by Akash Mishra completely. He was isolated by the left-back who continuously intercepted his balls and restricted him from embarking on threatening runs. Substituted for the in-form Mobarak Al-Faneeni in the 65th minute.

Ahmad Al Dhefeery - 6

The attacking midfielder chained together a few attacks but Kuwait's forward line was too wide for him to be able to generate anything substantial.

Mohammad Daham - 6.5

Saw a first-half strike disallowed (the ball ultimately ended on the side net). Went past Nikhil Poojary on multiple occasions but with no end product.

Shabaib Al Khaldi - 6.5

Got Kuwait’s first effort on goal after a flowing set of passes but hurried his shot due to pressure and skied it. 

Substitutes

Mobarak Al-Faneeni - 5.5

Al-Faneeni could not keep his purple patch of form as he was shut out well by Akash Mishra. 

Fawaz Ayedh - 6

Regulated possession better than Redha Hani but did not really have an astronomical impact on the game.

Khaled Hajiah - 6.5

Received the captain’s armband after coming on and led his side to a draw.   

Abdullah Al Buloushi - 7

Did a fair job defending the far post. He was the man behind Anwar Ali's own goal.