Sunil Chhetri's last game for India ended in a goalless draw against Kuwait, as Igor Stimac's side were unable to breach the Kuwait defence. The 0-0 at the Salt Lake dented India's hopes of qualifying for the third round of the FIFA World Cup qualifiers, with an away game against Qatar to come without Chhetri. India are second in the table with 5 points, ahead of Kuwait and Afghanistan on four points, but with a draw enough for Kuwait and a win for Afghanistan enough, India will need a result against Qatar to progress.
The final whistle saw Chhetri in tears, as he took a lap of honour as the crowd cheered him on, the disappointing result an afterthought as fans bade farewell to their legend.
The start of the match was all about Chhetri as he led India out to a packed stadium for a final time, with banners aplenty in the stands as tributes flowed in. However, it was Kuwait who began the footballing action on the night, with Mohammad Daham forcing Gurpreeet Singh Sandhu into an early save. India responded soon after with a cross from Liston that forced a last-ditch clearance with Chhetri lurking to tap the ball home.
India ought to have been in the lead soon after, as Anwar Ali sent a free header over the bar with the goal at his mercy. Kuwait responded with a chance of their own, Daham lofting the ball over Gurpreet after being put clean through. Jay Gupta also forced another clearance but India went into the break having little to celebrate.
It could have gone pear-shaped soon after, as Gurpreet was forced into a save early in the second half, as Faisal Al-Harbi forced a superb reaction save with a volley from a narrow angle. Rahim Ali had come on at half-time and made an instant impact running on to an superb pass from fellow substitute Brandon Fernandes, and was clean through on goal. However, the forward's low strike lacked power and Sulaiman Abdulghafoor in the Kuwait goal was on hand to save. Ali snatched at a carbon-copy of a chance soon after, as India were firmly on top around the hour mark.
However, Kuwait could have won it themselves, with Eid Al-Rashidi forcing Gurpreet into another save in the box, after which the visitors were denied a penalty. Yousef Al-Sulaiman controlled a long ball forward and got past Anwar Ali, and the defender's last-ditch tackle appeared to trip the forward in the box, only for the referee to wave appeals away. Igor Stimac threw the kitchen sink at Kuwait late on, with Manvir Singh and Edmund Lalrindika making his debut, but there was no goal forthcoming as the final whistle blew.
Sunil Chhetri had his hands over his eyes as the crowd cheered him on, hiding his tears as he called his time on his India career, a bonafide legend with 94 goals from 151 games and multiple records. He was felicitated after the game, but the result would leave a bit of a bitter taste, but it mattered not on a night when reflecting on a stellar 19 years.
Sunil Chhetri, after the game:
"I think for everyone who came for the game, for everyone who watched for the last 19 years, for the ones who have watched in videos, for the ones who have taken autographs and the ones who have been old-time supporters - thank you everyone. These 19 years would not have been possible without each and every one of you and I genuinely mean it. For everyone who is here, thank you so much - I genuinely mean it. I think [chokes up] I think I'll speak from the heart - everyone stay well, stay happy - thank you, thank you so much."
The Indian legend also handed out signed letters to the media after game, which read:
To my friends from the media,
Over the last 19 years, I've had the opportunity to interact with so many of you, on more than a few occasions. There were times when I had to say a lot less than I would have liked to, and others where I responded to your questions with long monologues. There were the answers laced with frustration, the ones that were - much to your annoyance - non committal, and then the press conferences that ended in a hurry. But through It all, I'd like to believe that I was always honest with you. And that I always chose to have a conversation with you, even if it risked making headlines for reasons beyond those that I would have liked.
I wanted to - by way of this letter and this occasion - thank you for playing the role you did in telling my story. Thank you for the love and adulation you have shown me through your prose and photographs. But most importantly, thank you for the times when you've been honest in your assessment of the way I've played or carried myself.
Yours isn't an easy job, but a really important one. And now is as good a time as any, to acknowledge it. Keep telling stories of Indian football - the good, the not so good, but mostly the ones of genuine promise and hope. We need it now more than ever.
You had, and will always have the best seats in the house. I just hope that over these 19 years, I made that experience just a little more special. Maybe I'll join you in your dugout for a game or two.
Signing off with gratitude,
Sunil Chhetri
You can relive the game as it happened, below.