Bengaluru (24th June) – Defending Champions India and Kuwait progressed to the semifinals of the SAFF Championship after winning the Group A matches played Saturday.

India earned a comfortable victory over Nepal in Saturday night’s game while Kuwait demolished Pakistan 4-0 in the game player earlier in the day.

India and Kuwait guaranteed their semi-final spots from Group A with two wins out of two games. With defeats in the two games played so far, Pakistan and 2022 runners up Nepal are knocked out of the tournament.

Nepal knew that they had to avoid defeat to have any chance of progressing to the knockout stage, and they did well to stop the Indian attack in the first half.

During the first half, Nepal had the chance to trouble the Indian defense on counter attacks, but they failed to produce any meaningful attacks.

India started the second half stronger and piled more pressure on the Nepali defense. India’s pressure paid off in the 61st minute when Captain Sunil Chhetri scored the opening goal of the game. Winger Naorem Mahesh Singh crossed the ball into the box and Chhetri calmly slotted the ball into the net.

Mahesh doubled India’s lead seven minutes later. Chhetri’s shot inside the box was blocked by Nepali goalkeeper Kiran Kumar. The deflected shot hit the bar, and Manesh headed the ball into the goal.

Kuwait dominate Pakistan

Earlier in the day Kuwait dominated Pakistan to earn an emphatic win.

Pakistan made some changes to their starting 11 after their opening day defeat at the hands of India. However, Kuwait took the lead in the 10th minute.

Winger Mobarak Alfaneeni’s delivery into the box went straight to the path of Hassan Alanezi who controlled the ball and made a good shot to find the back of the net.

Kuwait doubled their lead seven minutes later when the impressive Alfaneeni’s shot found the top right corner of the net.

KUWAIT PLAYERS CELEBRATE AFTER SCORING AGAINST PAKISTAN

Kuwait grabbed a third goal in extra time when Eid Alrashidi intercepted a back pass from a Pakistani defender. Alrashidi's shot was blocked but the rebound fell into the path of Alfaneeni who calmly scooped the ball over the Pakistani goalkeeper.

Kuwait’s fourth goal of the game came in the 69th minute. Alrashidi beat a Pakistani defender and slotted the ball into the back of the net.