Pakistan vs Kuwait Live Score, SAFF Championship 2023: PAK 0-2 KUW after 40 minutes

Pakistan will fight to stay alive in the SAFF Championship 2023 when they take on World No. 143 Kuwait in their second Group A game at the Kanteerava Stadium in Bengaluru on Saturday (June 24, 2023). Ranked 193rd Pakistan will be looking for a source of confidence early on in the game as they were hammed 4-0 in the first game of the season by hosts India.

04:16 PM

SAFF Championship 2023: PAK 0-2 KUW 40′

Trouble for Pakistan as Salman Mohammed penetrates into the box from the left flank using trickery. The forward, however, looked for support inside the crowded box but could only find a Pak player at the end of his cross. Right after, Pakistan try to catch Kuwait on counter but Otis takes a heavy touch to lose the ball right outside the Kuwait box after being fed by Ali Khan Niazi from right flank.

04:11 PM

SAFF Championship 2023: PAK 0-2 KUW 38′

Finally something meaningful from Pakistan attack as Harun Hamid finds space on the left flank after taking the ball from his teammate Otis. His cross into the box had quality too but no Pakistan forward could reach the box to recieve it as the chance goes begging.

04:09 PM

SAFF Championship 2023: PAK 0-2 KUW 36′

It has been a cagey affair for the last few minutes as Kuwait have relaxed into the game but they still look like the most threatening team of the two as they often are using their quality to penetrate in Pakistan half.

04:03 PM

SAFF Championship 2023: PAK 0-2 KUW 31′

Pakistan are trying to rebuild their game from the back after being pushed to the wall. The Men in Green, however, are not able to penetrate the Kuwait box yet.

04:02 PM

SAFF Championship Live: PAK 0-2 KUW GOOOOALLLLL!

Mobarak Alfaneeni doubles Kuwait’s lead! The winger just had to tap the ball in after Alrashidi found acres of space to run into on the counter before assisting the goalscorer as Pakistan defence was left exposed.

03:48 PM

SAFF Championship Live Updates: PAK 0-1 KUW 10′ GOOOOOAALLLLLL

Kuwait takes the early lead! Hasan Al Enezi puts the side at front after a patient build-up from the right flank. A pin point cross was delivered to Hasan on far post and he took an extra touch before burying the ball into the net. Kuwait have already put a foot into the semis. Plenty of time for Pakistan to react though

Sunil Chhetri starred in the game as the 38-year-old striker scored a hat-trick before Udanta Singh put another into the net late in the game to complete the demolition. Pakistan struggled to show quality in the game despite the presence of some quality players plying their trade in England. In Pakistan’s defence, the green-clad outfit has had their struggles even before the match was kick-off.

Visa-related delays, which included late no-objection certificate from Pakistan’s sports ministry followed by a strict immigration process in Mumbai, led to the side reaching Bengaluru in two separate flights. Some of the players, including their star winger Otis Khan, reached the team hotel as late as three hours before the game, leaving them next to no time to train for the big game, let alone get acclimatised to the weather conditions.

Prior to coming to India, the side played in a tournament in Mauritius but struggled to obtain a win. They, however, had something to show from the tournament as they showed good quality in a 1-0 loss to World No. 98 Kenya. There’s no lack of ambition from the side too despite losing the first game to India as winger Otis Khan said he would like to see India and Pakistan match in the final as he expects his adopted home to turn the tournament around after the setback.

Their job will be easier said than done as they face a much higher-ranked Kuwait, who made a lightwork of World No. 174 Nepal in the opening match of the tournament in the afternoon kick-off. The Middle East side won the game 3-1 with Khalid El Ebrahim, Shabib Al Khaldi, and Abdullah Daham finding the net.