Sunil Chhetri’s Farewell Match: The End of an Era
An overcast sky over Salt Lake Stadium mirrored the somber mood in the Indian camp as their legendary striker, Sunil Chhetri, laced up his boots for the last time in the World Cup qualifier against Kuwait. The match ended in a 0-0 draw, making India’s dream of advancing to the next round even more elusive.
Emotional Farewell for Chhetri
The stadium erupted in thunderous applause as Chhetri took his first steps onto the field for warm-up. He graciously acknowledged the cheers before joining his teammates for practice. Despite his focus on India’s qualification, the weight of his final game was palpable in the air.
No Fairytale Ending
Despite the hopes and emotions riding on this match, Dinesh Karthik mentioned after retiring from cricket, “In sport, there are no fairytale endings.” Chhetri’s last game for the Blue Tigers ended with India further away from their qualification goal. The emotions he had held back for days finally surfaced as he walked off the field, receiving a guard of honor from his teammates. Chhetri concluded his illustrious career with 94 goals in 151 matches. He is the 4th top goal scorer in international men’s football.
The Match: A Defensive Battle
India kicked off with a 4-3-3 formation, introducing Jay Gupta to the senior team’s defense alongside Anwar Ali, Rahul Bheke, and Nikhil Poojary. Kuwait wasted no time in pressuring the Indian defense, leading to a brilliant save by Gurpreet Singh Sandhu in the 4th minute.
Struggles in Midfield and Attack
Kuwait dominated the midfield for most of the first half, exploiting India’s lack of ball control and possession. India’s best chance came in the 11th minute when Liston Colaco’s determined run resulted in a corner, but Anwar Ali’s header went high.
Limited Opportunities
Chances were scarce as Kuwait continued to dominate. India’s debutant Gupta managed a low cross to Abdul Sahal, which was cleared, and Sahal’s later attempt was blocked, with Colaco’s rebound hitting the side netting. Chhetri found himself without a clear opportunity, floating inside the opposition’s penalty box but needing to receive the ball in a promising position.
Second Half Changes
In the second half, India switched to a more attacking mode with substitutions. Rahim Ali and Brandon Fernandes replaced Sahal and Anirudh Thapa. Chhetri played behind the striker, with Suresh Singh Wangjam as the lone central defensive midfielder. Fernandes almost set up Ali for a goal, but the goalkeeper saved the shot.
♦Stay Updated With News| Bharat Bulletin Online
Improved Performance but No Clear Edge
India looked better in the second half, especially with the substitutes dictating play. However, neither team gained a clear advantage. Manvir Singh came on in the 70th minute, replacing a tired Colaco.
A Chaotic End
During the 7 minutes of added time, several players from both teams got into a mini-brawl. With this draw, India faces an uncertain future without their most decorated striker. They now have 5 points with a game in hand and must rely on the results of the remaining matches to keep their hopes alive for the third round of qualifiers, leaving the audience concerned about the team’s prospects.
One thought on “Sunil Chhetri’s Farewell Match: The End of an Era”