India draws against Kuwait in the last group stage game of the SAFF Championship

Sunil Chhetri was under the spotlight for his beautiful finish in the first half, which was cancelled by an unfortunate own goal from Anwar Ali in second-half injury time, putting a heartbreaking and unfortunate end to India's hopes of topping the group.

India started 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.

Moments before half-time, facing another Thapa corner, the captain, almost hiding in plain sight against Kuwait's zonal marking, Sunil Chhetri cleanly nestled the ball into the back of the net with a side-footed volley from 12 yards out.

Tempers continued to flare after Stimac's sending off after Sahal Abdul Samad was fouled in the Kuwait half, and the West Asians prevented a quick restart, resulting in a scuffle, after which Hamad Al-Qallaf and Rahim Ali were shown red.

However, it was to be a cruel end to India's seven-match clean-sheet run. Abdullah Al-Bloushi's harmless-looking cross from the right deflected into the Indian net as Anwar Ali tried to hook it clear.