Lion-hearted present: Chhetri’s heroics weren’t sufficient to take India dwelling. | Photo Credit: Okay. MURALI KUMAR

Kuwait held India to a 1-1 attract an evenly contested however ill-tempered battle of the SAFF Championship on the Sree Kanteerava Stadium right here on Tuesday.

Sunil Chhetri’s elegant volley on the stroke of half-time practically received it for India however Anwar Ali’s personal aim within the second minute of harm time meant Kuwait completed Group-A topper (on objectives scored, 8 to 7).

In the primary half, the hosts pressed with vigour and received the ball excessive up the pitch a number of occasions, just for below-par execution within the closing third to allow them to down.

Kuwait, then again, impressed with its fluid transition from defence to offence, its penchant for sweeping strikes discovering expression via the likes of Ahmad Aldhefeery and Eid Alrashidi. But India stored its defensive form with Akash Mishra and Anwar having an excellent sport.

Anwar even had a golden likelihood to place his group forward within the thirty fifth minute when he rose excessive and met a nook cleanly, solely to dump it vast.

But with the break approaching, Naorem Mahesh swung a wonderful cross from the left that was turned away for a nook. From Thapa’s kick, Chhetri related an awesome volley from simply contained in the penalty space that ended up bulging the online on the backside left nook.

In the second interval, the guests grew stressed and fidgety as India seldom allowed them to settle right into a rhythm. Their finest alternative got here within the fifty fifth minute, however Amrinder Singh tipped away a free kick from Shabaib Alkhaldi.

With India seemingly in management, head coach Igor Stimac, simply again from a suspension, unwittingly received into one other scuffle and picked up a warning. Minutes later, he was despatched off for a second yellow, this time for being relentlessly within the ear of the fourth official. He watched from the stands as the remainder of the match slipped into acrimony. Tempers flared as India substitute Rahim Ali and Kuwait’s Hamad Alqallaf had been thrown out.

When Anwar’s botched clearance looped again into his personal internet, the Kuwaiti bench gestured wildly in Stimac’s course, and two extra gamers picked up yellow playing cards.

It felt inevitable {that a} wonderful soccer match needed to finish with the police escorting the match officers.

The outcomes: India 1 (Chhetri 45+2) drew with Kuwait 1 (Anwar 90+2-og); Nepal 1 (Aashish Chaudhary 80) bt Pakistan 0.