SAFF Championship 2023: Kuwait pips Bangladesh to make it to its maiden final

Kuwait clinched a 1-0 win in opposition to a resolute Bangladesh to develop into the primary staff to qualify for the 2023 SAFF Championship closing, the place it should face both India or Lebanon, on the Sree Kanteerava Stadium right here on Saturday.

Abdullah Albloushi scored the match’s solely aim within the first half of additional time to information the Al-Azraqs to victory.

It was the Bengal Tigers who had a chance to take the lead within the second minute. Froward Rakib Hossain, darting down the appropriate flank with midfielder Shekh Morsalin in help, squared the ball to an unmarked Morsalin within the centre because the latter went for a first-time shot.

But the trouble was straight at Kuwait’s stopper Abdul Rahman Marzouq, who made the save.

The Al-Azraqs retorted within the seventh minute from a nook. Bangladesh couldn’t clear its strains as Kuwait’s ahead Mobarak Alfaneeni lobbed the ball contained in the field for Salman Mohammed, whose header was seen off by Md Isa Faysal by means of a well timed goalline clearance.

Contrary to expectations, favorite Kuwait discovered it difficult to cope with the Bangladeshis, who stored successful the second balls in midfield and stored a compact defence to maintain their opponent out.

Hossain threatened the Kuwait aim within the dying levels of the primary half when his low-driven cross from the appropriate nearly crept contained in the near-post, however Marzouq caught the ball within the nick of time.

He continued to be within the highlight after the restart when his shot (within the 54th minute) caught Kuwait unexpectedly, because the ball whistled inches over the crossbar.

Six minutes later, his shot from the appropriate aspect of the six-yard field hit the underside of the crossbar and the participant, with arms on his head, couldn’t imagine he hadn’t discovered the web.

Kuwait’s ahead Mohammad Abdullah received an opportunity to get his identify on the scoresheet proper minutes after the hour mark when tried to seek out the web from a decent angle, from contained in the field.

But Bangladesh’s goalkeeper Anisur Rahman, who seemed assured between the sticks, palmed the ball away.

Rahman was known as into motion once more within the 73rd minute as Eid Alrashidi blasted a shot at aim from an in depth distance however the keeper confirmed glorious reflexes to make the save, incomes appreciation from coach Javier Fernandez Cabrera on the touchlines.

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Abdullah may have stolen the match for Kuwait late within the second half when lower inside to his proper and went for a roller from the sting of the field however it missed the aim by inches.

Play within the second half was additionally halted momentarily attributable to a disturbance close to the Bangladesh dugout. The fourth official known as referee John Crystal and complained about Bengal Tigers’ physiotherapist David Dobarro Magan for dissent, who was then proven a pink card.

With the match goalless on the finish of regulation time, the competition entered into half-hour of additional time.

The breakthrough got here late within the first half of additional time.

Abdullah – left fully unmarked within the closing third – had time and area to string the ball to Albloushi contained in the field, who made his manner contained in the field, discovering the web with a low shot into the far put up.

Hossain had the possibility to seize the equaliser within the 117th minute however Marzouq was positioned effectively at his near-post to make the save.

A battle broke out after the ultimate whistle which noticed a verbal spat between Biswanath Ghosh and Alrashidi.

It required the intervention from the members of the match commissioners staff for issues to chill down as a stunning contest ended on a bitter be aware.