And so, after 151 games and 94 goals, Sunil Chhetri’s storied career ended with a result that was neither here nor there. In isolation, a 0-0 draw against Kuwait, one of the first Asian sides to play in the World Cup (1982), was not a bad result. But on this Thursday night at the atmospheric Salt Lake Stadium, it felt like a catastrophe. India, and Igor Stimac, their coach, now know that nothing less than victory in Doha against Qatar, the two-time champions of Asia, is likely to be enough if they’re to make it to the third round of World Cup qualifying on the continent.
In truth, this campaign was doomed when they failed to beat Afghanistan, the lowest-ranked team in the group, either home or away. It’s almost farcical that they’ve taken four points from Kuwait and are still staring at the exit door.
This was a poor game, in truth, between two sides whose finishing betrayed why they’re not part of the highest echelon in Asia. Gurpreet Singh Sandhu, the veteran goalkeeper whose costly gaffes cost India dear in the Asian Cup earlier this year, made some exceptional saves, while his Kuwaiti counterpart, Sulaiman Abdulghafoor made the stop of the match to keep out Rahim Ali, the second-half substitute. But clear-cut chances were few and far between on a night that saw plenty of huff and puff and very little quality.
India were warned early on, as Mohammad Daham was slid through in the third minute, only for Gurpreet to save superbly with his feet, and deflect the ball just wide of his near post. Daham’s pace and movement caused all kinds of problems for a new-look Indian backline, with Jay Gupta at left-back.
India’s first real sight of goal came in the 11th minute when Liston Colaco escaped down the left. It needed a last-ditch intervention from Hassan Al-Enezi to deny the lurking Chhetri. From the resulting Anirudh Thapa corner, a completely unmarked Anwar Ali headed over.
Most of the good work India did was down the right, though Lallianzuala Chhangte and Nikhil Poojary weren’t always on the same wavelength. Gupta was picked partly for his attacking intent, though that was only sporadically in evidence. When he did make a surging run in the 25th minute, he also delivered a delicious low cross that Al-Enezi again booted behind with Sahal Abdul Samad ready to pounce.
Sahal and Thapa were hooked at half-time, with Rahim and Brandon Fernandes coming on, and the greater pace up front paid almost immediate dividends. Rahim beat the offside trap and his carefully placed low drive was diverted wide by a wonderful low save from Abdulghafoor.
By then, Gurpreet had already produced a superb reflex save from Faisal Al-Harbi, and minutes later, when Daham rolled a ball across the top of the box, Eid Al Rashidi switched the ball to his right boot before letting fly. Again, Gurpreet was up to the task, diving full stretch to his right to keep it out.
As the game ticked towards the hour mark, India won a succession of corners, but could do little with them. Manvir Singh, whose goal on the counter had earned that famous victory in Kuwait last November, came on after 70 minutes, replacing Colaco, but Kuwait, knowing that a point would likely be enough, remained resolute in defence.
“We knew it was going to be tough,” said Stimac after the game. “It was a tight game, with only half-chances. There was not enough self-confidence from us. We were not aggressive enough.”
Chhetri couldn’t sign off with a goal-scoring cameo, and the near-drought in front of goal over the last few months remains a huge concern. “Not being clinical has been happening too long,” said Stimac. “Gurpreet was brilliant. Fabulous. I never had doubts about him. Others were not hundred per cent there today.”
Having beaten Afghanistan 4-0 away, Kuwait will expect to complete the job at home next Tuesday. As for India, they will need their greatest victory since the Asian Games final of 1962 to progress any further.