Gangte hat-trick fires India U17 to 4-2 win over Singapore in AFC U-17 Asian Cup Qualifier
Skipper Dallalmoun Gangte scored a hat-trick as the India U17 men’s team beat Singapore 4-2 at the Kuala Lumpur Football Stadium in the AFC U-17 Asian Cup 2027 Qualifiers on Wednesday, November 11, 2026. The result gave India a winning start to their Group E campaign.
Singapore took the lead through Izzan Farid in the 27th minute, only for Gangte to level two minutes later. Gangte then converted a penalty in the 61st minute, Farid restored parity with a header in the 65th, and Gangte completed his treble in the 82nd minute before substitute Ristik Maity sealed the 4-2 final score in the 88th minute.
Mehrajuddin Wadoo’s side displayed a patient build-up, keeping possession deep in their own half and probing with passes to draw Singapore out of position. An error by India centre-back Leo Thongbam — a delayed clearance — allowed Izzan Farid to pounce and finish from close range for the 27th-minute opener. Two minutes later Sailex Oinam chipped into the box, Gangte controlled, turned past his marker and finished low into the near post to make it 1-1.
Gangte came close again five minutes before half-time when a chance from Kamgouhao Doungel’s pass struck the left upright and rolled out. Lawmsangzuala, Doungel and Mukundo Singh Ningthoujam linked up repeatedly to pressure the Singapore defence, while the trio of Sailex, Gangte and Md Sahir Ali supplied further attacking threat. Singapore sought to disrupt the pattern with long passes, but the Indian defence absorbed those attempts and the teams went in level at the interval.
The breakthrough after half-time came from a penalty. Doungel’s pass from the left found Hrishikesh Charan Manavathi, who was brought down by Leo Chin Hee Caled; referee Dan Ning of China awarded the spot-kick and Gangte’s right-footed penalty made it 2-1 in the 61st minute. Singapore responded from a set piece when Saw Tian Zhi’s right-sided corner found Farid, who headed home in the 65th to level the score again.
India regained the lead in the 82nd minute following substitute David Mangang Irom’s movement: David sold a dummy, drove right and struck a shot that goalkeeper Ilhan Rezal parried only to Dallalmoun Gangte, who finished quickly. Later, a move involving fellow substitute Raj Singh Wahengbam released Gangte, whose shot was blocked and the loose ball was tucked in by substitute Ristik Maity in the 88th minute.
India U17: Maroof Shafi (GK), Lawmsangzuala, Zoramdinthara, R Lawmsangzuala (David Mangang Irom 78’), Hrishikesh Charan Manavathi (Felix Meitei Saikhom 90+5’), Mukundo Singh Ningthoujam, Md Sahir Ali (Raj Singh Wahengbam 78’), Leo Thongbam, Kamgouhao Doungel, Dallalmuon Gangte (C)(Thiyam Sambay 90+5’), Sailex Oinam.
India will next face Guam on November 14, before meeting Palestine on November 17 and Malaysia on November 20; all matches will be streamed live on the FAMTV Malaysia YouTube Channel.
