In a thrilling Kings Cup semifinal showdown, the Indian men’s football team faced a heartbreaking exit as they fell short in a nerve-wracking penalty shootout against Iraq at the 700th Anniversary Stadium. The highly competitive match saw both teams battling fiercely, ultimately concluding 2-2 at the end of regular time. However, Iraq emerged victorious in the penalty shootout, claiming a 5-4 win over the Blue Colts.
A Game of Defensive Errors
The entire contest was marked by defensive errors on both sides. India’s defense faltered at crucial moments, while Iraq’s goalkeeper had moments to forget. Iraq initiated the game with dominance, maintaining possession and launching crosses into the box. Despite the early pressure, India managed to hold their ground, thwarting Iraq’s attacking efforts.
Iraq’s Dominance and India’s Response
Iraq continued to dictate the tempo of the game, but India’s attackers failed to press with urgency to regain possession. Iraq’s persistence paid off with their first clear-cut opportunity, which India’s defense managed to repel effectively. India narrowly avoided another scare as Ashique Kuruniyan lost possession in a dangerous area, but striker Al-Hamadi failed to capitalize.
India Takes the Lead
Despite Iraq’s growing dominance, India managed to break the deadlock as Naorem Mahesh Singh found the back of the net in the 16th minute following a splendid through ball from midfielder Sahal Samad. The Blue Colts took a 1-0 lead.**Iraq’s Equalizer from the Penalty Spot:**Within the next 15 minutes, Iraq leveled the score with a penalty. Sandesh Jhingan received a yellow card for a handball inside the box, and Al-Hamadi calmly converted the spot-kick, making it 1-1. The first half ended with the score tied.
India Retakes the Lead Early in the Second Half
India surged ahead early in the second half, as Manvir’s shot, although not very threatening, managed to find its way into the net due to a goalkeeper error. The Blue Colts led 2-1.
Late Equalizer for Iraq
Despite India’s resolute defense, Iraq finally breached their opponent’s backline in the final 10 minutes of the game, winning another penalty and scoring from the spot through Aymen. The match concluded 2-2 after 90 minutes of play.
Penalty Shootout Heartbreak
The deadlock led to a dramatic penalty shootout, where Iraq converted all of their spot-kicks, while India managed to score four. The shootout took an unfortunate turn for India as Brandon Fernandes struck the post with the first penalty, and goalkeeper Gurpreet couldn’t prevent Iraq from taking the win.In a hard-fought contest that showcased moments of brilliance and tension, India exited the Kings Cup at the semifinal stage, with Iraq advancing to the finals through a gripping penalty shootout victory.