Football

Sunil bids adieu as India play out a draw with Kuwait

Published

2 years ago

June 6, 2024

Ray Sportz News Desk: India’s hopes for qualifying for the third round of the FIFA World Cup 2026 and AFC Asian Cup 2027 Preliminary Joint Qualification took a hit as they were held 0-0 by Kuwait in their penultimate Group A game at the Salt Lake Stadium on Thursday, June 6, 2024.
In what was Sunil Chhetri’s 151st and last dance in Indian colours, victory may have eluded him at the full-time whistle, but emotions couldn’t. After a lap around the 58,921 fans at the Salt Lake Stadium, the captain, leader, legend, let out his farewell tears when the Indian players and team officials gave him a guard of honour to the tunnel. In a warm gesture, each one of Kuwait’s players and officials also paid their respects with handshakes and hugs with the Indian skipper.

As far as the match is concerned, it was far from a drab affair, with a host of chances at both ends, particularly in the first half. But some top-notch defending and fine saves reduced the contest to a goalless one.

With the draw, India remain in second place with five points (Qatar will play Afghanistan later in the day), but importantly for Kuwait, they stay alive with four points. India will now hope for Qatar’s victory over Afghanistan, and a draw between Kuwait and Afghanistan on June 11. In that scenario, a point for India against Qatar in five days’ time in Doha will be enough to progress to the third round.

Kuwait made the earliest inroad in the fifth minute when left-winger Mohammad Abdulah shouldered his way into the box and came one-on-one with Gurpreet Singh Sandhu, but the Indian custodian stood strong, sticking his leg out to make a vital save early on.

India also responded with frantic pace on the left courtesy of Liston Colaco, who raced his way past the Kuwait right-back and put in a low cross, but Hasan Alanezi stabbed the ball clear for the visitors. India had their first shot from the resulting Anirudh Thapa corner, with an unmarked Anwar Ali heading it inches over the bar.

In the 25th minute, both teams had their heart-in-the-mouth moments in the space of a few seconds. First, it was Eid Alrashidi breaking the offside trap to stray clear on goal before dinking the ball over an onrushing Gurpreet. It landed just wide of the goal net. Immediately after, Jay Gupta burst forward and put an inviting low cross from the left. But Alanezi was on hand again to clear the danger for Kuwait at full stretch.

Slowly and steadily, India grew in confidence and began stringing attacks patiently, mostly utilising the speed of their wingers. Lallianzuala Chhangte got the better of left-back Meshari Alenezi on a couple of occasions and swung in dangerous crosses from the right, but Kuwait actively hacked them clear. Stimac’s men were quicker to the second balls as well, winning the ball in the final third and making Kuwait sweat at the back.

On a couple of occasions, Liston also tried his luck from distance, first smashing the side-netting, before skying it wayward from an audacious 40-yard attempt.

At half-time, Stimac made two changes, sacrificing midfielder Thapa to bring on striker Rahim Ali, while Brandon Fernandes replaced Sahal Abdul Samad in the middle.

The start to the second half was as wild as the first. Both goalkeepers were tested to the fullest in and came out on top. Faisal Alharbi’s stinging volley from barely six yards out was met with a stunning reflex save from Gurpreet, who dipped his entire 196-centimetre figure to palm it out. A few minutes later, he had to stretch to the top corner to push out Yousef Alsulaiman’s effort.

Sandwiched between Gurpreet’s heroics was Sulaiman Abdulghafoor’s one-on-one save for Kuwait. He made himself big to deny Rahim, who had latched on to a great through ball.

India struggled to maintain their first-half intensity and the tempo shifted towards Kuwait for a while. Substitute Ali Matar got plenty of space near the edge of the box, but he hesitated to shoot early and by the time he did, Rahul Bheke had thrown his body to make a solid block.

For those in blue, time seemed to pass quicker as they were left frustrated by Kuwait slowing down the tempo of the game.

The Blue Tigers sprang to some life in injury time, but it was not enough. Brandon Fernandes flashed a low ball across the face of the goal, but it was Alenezi once again to clear the danger for Kuwait for the umpteenth time on the night. Seconds later, Chhangte picked out Manvir with an inch-perfect cross but the latter nodded it wide of the near post.

Gurpreet Singh Sandhu was named the player of the match.

Both the teams observed a minute’s silence before the start of the match, in memory of Anil Kamat, Assistant General Secretary and Director, Competition, AIFF, who passed away on Tuesday, June 4, 2024.

Related Topics:Featured Football Sunil Chhetri

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Football

India Edge Past Hong Kong 2–1 in Crucial Qualifier Clash

Published

2 days ago

March 31, 2026

Ray Sportz

Ray Sportz Web Desk: In a spirited display at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, the Indian national football team secured a hard-fought 2–1 victory over Hong Kong in their AFC Asian Cup 2027 Qualifiers (Third Round) encounter on Tuesday.
India got off to a dream start when debutant Ryan Williams found the back of the net in just the 4th minute, giving the hosts an early advantage and electrifying the home crowd. The early goal set the tone for the match, with India dominating possession and dictating the tempo in the opening half.
The second half saw India continue their attacking momentum, and their efforts paid off when Akash Mishra doubled the lead, finishing a well-worked move to put the hosts firmly in control. However, Hong Kong responded with resilience, pulling one goal back in the 65th minute through Everton Camargo, setting up a tense finish.
Despite late pressure from the visitors, the Indian defense held firm, with disciplined performances across the backline ensuring the hosts protected their narrow lead until the final whistle.
The victory marked India’s first win in the ongoing qualifying campaign, providing a much-needed boost in morale. However, despite the positive result, India ended their campaign at the bottom of the group standings.
The team will look to build on this performance in future fixtures as they aim to regain momentum on the international stage.

Football

India Name 23-Member Squad for Asian Cup Qualifier Clash Against Hong Kong

Published

1 week ago

March 24, 2026

Ray Sportz

Ray Sportz Web Desk: India’s senior men’s national football team, popularly known as the Blue Tigers, have announced a 23-member squad for their upcoming AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027 Qualifiers Final Round match against Hong Kong, China, scheduled for March 31 in Kochi.
Head coach Khalid Jamil has selected a balanced squad comprising experienced players and promising young talents as the team looks to rebuild after being ruled out of qualification for the continental tournament.
The national camp commenced on Tuesday in Kochi, with 20 players reporting initially. Defender Anwar Ali, midfielder Jeakson Singh Thounaojam, and forward Edmund Lalrindika are expected to join the squad later, following their Indian Super League commitments.
Speaking about the squad selection, Jamil emphasized the importance of long-term planning. He stated that the match presents an opportunity to integrate emerging players from the U20 and U23 setups into the senior team framework. Several young prospects are currently participating in international youth competitions, including the SAFF U20 Championship and the U23 Tri-Nation tournament.
The squad features experienced names such as goalkeeper Gurpreet Singh Sandhu, defenders Sandesh Jhingan and Rahul Bheke, along with attacking options like Lallianzuala Chhangte, Liston Colaco, and Manvir Singh.
Full Squad:
Goalkeepers: Albino Gomes, Gurpreet Singh Sandhu, Vishal Kaith
Defenders: Abhishek Singh Tekcham, Akash Mishra, Anwar Ali, Bijoy Varghese, Nikhil Poojary, Rahul Bheke, Roshan Singh Naorem, Sandesh Jhingan
Midfielders: Ashique Kuruniyan, Danish Farooq Bhat, Jeakson Singh Thounaojam, Lalengmawia Ralte, Sahal Abdul Samad
Forwards: Edmund Lalrindika, Farukh Choudhary, Lallianzuala Chhangte, Liston Colaco, Manvir Singh, Rahim Ali, Ryan Williams
The match will take place at the Jawaharlal Nehru International Stadium on March 31, kicking off at 7:00 PM IST.
Although India are no longer in contention for qualification, the fixture is expected to play a crucial role in shaping the team’s future as preparations begin for upcoming international competitions.

East Bengal

ISL 2025/26: Historic Kolkata Derby Ends in East Bengal’s 7–0 Rout

Published

1 week ago

March 23, 2026

Ray Sportz

Ray Sportz Web Desk: In what will be remembered as one of the most one-sided encounters in recent Kolkata derby history, East Bengal produced a stunning performance to defeat Mohammedan Sporting Club 7–0 in today’s match.
From the opening whistle, East Bengal looked dominant, controlling possession and dictating the tempo with confidence and precision. Their attacking intent paid off early, setting the tone for a relentless display that left Mohammedan struggling to recover.
The goal-scoring spree was led by a brilliant brace each from Anwar Ali and Youssef Ezzejjari, with the latter calmly converting two penalties. Additional goals from Saúl Crespo, Vishnu PV, and Nandha Kumar completed the rout, showcasing East Bengal’s depth and attacking versatility.
Mohammedan Sporting endured a difficult outing throughout the match. Their defensive structure repeatedly broke down under pressure, and the situation worsened after they were reduced to ten men, making any comeback virtually impossible.
Statistically, the match reflected total domination. East Bengal enjoyed the lion’s share of possession and created numerous scoring opportunities, registering a remarkable number of shots compared to their opponents’ minimal attempts.
This emphatic victory not only boosts East Bengal’s morale but also marks one of the biggest winning margins in the derby’s history. For Mohammedan Sporting, however, it is a result that calls for serious reflection and regrouping in the matches ahead.
As the final whistle blew, the East Bengal supporters erupted in celebration, witnessing a performance that will be talked about for years to come.