A late own goal saw India being held to a 1-1 draw against Kuwait in the final Group A clash of the SAFF Championship 2023 at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium, in Bengaluru, on Tuesday.
In what was a high-tempo and high-tempered contest from start to finish, Sunil Chhetri's 92nd international goal, a clinical volley put India ahead at the stroke of half-time.
However, an unfortunate own goal from Anwar Ali in second-half injury time put a heartbreaking and unfortunate end to India's hopes of topping the group.
India started off aggressively, suffocating Kuwait with their pressing in the final and middle thirds. Naorem Mahesh Singh, who scored his first international goal in the previous match, was causing all sorts of trouble from the left wing.
In the fifth minute, he picked out Akash Mishra on the overlap and the left-back sent an inviting delivery into the middle which flashed just beyond Sunil Chhetri's reach.
India threatened with set-pieces in the entire match, and the first chance came from Mahesh's corner which Kuwait failed to clear and landed for Anwar Ali, whose attempt was feeble and easily blocked on the line.
India's confrontational approach led to a slight setback in the 14th minute when Sandesh Jhingan's flying challenge on Eid Al-Rashidi got him booked and suspended for Saturday's semi-final.
Kuwait gradually grew into the game, and got their first real chance on 20 minutes as Shabaib Al-Khaldi drove a loose ball over the crossbar. Five minutes later, Amrinder Singh made a terrific save to keep out Mohammad Abdullah's shot from close range after a clever pass from Al-Khaldi.
India looked increasingly dangerous from dead-ball situations, and while Kuwait breathed a sigh of relief when Anwar headed wide from a Thapa corner, Chhetri ensured that wouldn't be the case the next time of asking.
Moments before half-time, facing another Thapa corner, the captain, almost hiding in plain sight against Kuwait's zonal marking, cleanly nestled the ball into the back of the net with a side-footed volley from 12 yards out. One chance is all it takes for Sunil Chhetri.