India 2-1 Bhutan in Dhaka to reach SAFF Championship 2026 final
India defeated Bhutan 2-1 at the National Stadium in Dhaka, Bangladesh in the SAFF Championship 2026 semi-final on Saturday, 14th November, advancing to the tournament final. Vishnu PV and Chinglensana Singh scored in the first half to give India a 2-0 lead before Bhutan reduced the deficit early in the second half.
India opened the scoring in the ninth minute when Vishnu PV controlled a long diagonal pass, shifted onto his right foot, nutmegged a Bhutan defender and finished past the goalkeeper. Chinglensana Singh doubled the lead in the 28th minute after Bhutan failed to clear a corner taken by Manglenthang Kipgen, leaving India 2-0 at half-time following a period of control in the opening 45 minutes.
VAR was used in the SAFF Championship for the first time in the semi-final and influenced two pivotal moments that went against India. Bhutan’s second-half goal had initially been ruled out for offside but was allowed to stand after a VAR review. Earlier, a penalty awarded to India when Irfan Yadwad’s cross struck Nima Wangdi’s arm was overturned following the referee’s check of the monitor, with the decision changed to a Bhutan goal-kick.
India created a number of chances but were not clinical in finishing, which kept the match in doubt late on. Suhail Bhat had multiple opportunities, including one set up by Brison Fernandes and another created by a through ball from Macarton Nickson; Suhail’s 85th-minute effort struck the crossbar after a strong run into the box.
Squad availability was a concern for head coach Naushad Moosa, with only 17 outfield players available for the semi-final after India had faced Maldives on November 11, leaving two full days between matches. Moosa made four changes to the starting XI from the previous game, selecting Arsh Anwer Shaikh, Vishnu PV, Manglenthang Kipgen and Nikhil Prabhu, and several players featured in both fixtures.
India’s first two substitutions came in the 64th minute when Macarton Nickson replaced Manglenthang Kipgen and Irfan Yadwad came on for Vishnu PV; Abdul Rabeeh replaced Brison Fernandes in the 78th minute, with Ebindas Yesudasan and Nathan Rodrigues introduced for Suhail Bhat and Irfan Yadwad respectively in stoppage time. Despite the limited options, Moosa’s side secured the win, although late pressure from Bhutan exposed challenges in managing a small squad.
The final is scheduled for November 17, and India will await the winner of the other semi-final between Bangladesh and Pakistan. The article notes the All India Football Federation could consider recalling Mumbai City FC players or exploring options from the senior national team in New Zealand to bolster the squad ahead of the final.