India 3-2 Pakistan: Suhail Ahmad Bhat brace and Noufal assist decide SAFF Championship 2026 opener
India beat Pakistan 3-2 at the National Stadium in Dhaka in the SAFF Championship 2026 opener on Thursday, November 5, with Suhail Ahmad Bhat scoring twice and Noufal providing an assist as Naushad Moosa’s side held on despite two late strikes from Pakistan.
India dominated the early stages and opened the scoring in the 13th minute when Muhammed Suhail played in Suhail Ahmad Bhat, who finished calmly. Bhat added a second in the 18th minute and Manglenthang Kipgen made it 3-0 in the 32nd minute. Pakistan briefly threatened late, scoring two quick goals in stoppage time, but India secured all three points.
Goalkeeper Arsh Anwer Shaikh was credited with a 7/10; he made a notable save at 83′ but conceded twice in stoppage time and missed a clean sheet. Captain Bijoy Varghese was described as having only a decent outing. Left-back Uvais delivered a steady performance though observers noted there was room for improvement when India conceded. Valpuia was rated solid throughout and influential on both ends before being substituted, after which India appeared shakier.
Suhail Ahmad Bhat received a 9/10 for a brace and an almost third goal that was ruled out for offside; he was involved in all of India’s goals before being substituted in the second half. Muhammed Suhail started on the left wing then switched flanks with Noufal as the game progressed and contributed to the opening goal. Noufal (Mumbai City) was assessed as having a very good outing, combining effectively in the attack, providing an assist and being taken off in the second half. Ricky John Shabong earned 7/10 for his midfield pairing with Abhishek, whose own performance was rated positively despite conceding a penalty that Pakistan did not convert. Manglenthang Kipgen, who started in an attacking midfield role, finished on the scoresheet and was substituted later in the half.
Among the substitutes and squad rotation, Ebindas was brought on into the number 10 role and produced impressive deliveries, with the report noting he “could have an important role to play in India’s upcoming games in the tournament.” Farukh, introduced in the second half to add physicality, did not impress according to the match assessment. Adison was described as decent; Nathan Rodrigues, deployed on the left wing out of position, had an average outing. Lhungdim, introduced from the bench, failed to make a notable impact.
Pakistan’s Yousuf Ijaz Butt was rated 6/10, described as beaten three times in the first 32 minutes though none of the goals were judged clearly stoppable, and otherwise largely untroubled until conceding late. Mohammad Hayyaan Khattak (6/10) won the 34′ penalty with a driving run but was taken off around the half-hour mark with Pakistan already two down. Alamgir Ali Khan Ghazi received 7.5/10 for a more positive second half, blocking a long-range effort at 83′ and finishing Abdullah’s cross at 90+4′. Haris Ali Zeb (6/10) was booked at 39′ for a foul on Noufal but later supplied the delivery for Najeeb’s 83′ attempt. Haseeb Ahmed Khan was rated 5/10 after playing on following a 74′ injury scare and missing a penalty at 35′; he recorded a blocked effort at 48′ and a header saved at 62′ before being replaced around the hour mark through injury. Syed Ali Raza earned 5.5/10, creating Pakistan’s first real threat with a 4′ counter that ended with Bijoy dispossessing him and later scoring a header from Shah’s cross to pull Pakistan back into the game; his crossing was singled out as the team’s best creative output.
India collected three points from their opening match in the SAFF Championship 2026, prevailing 3-2 over Pakistan at the National Stadium in Dhaka.