India survive late scare to beat Pakistan 3-2 in SAFF Championship opener
Defending champions India defeated Pakistan 3-2 in their Group B opener at the National Stadium in Dhaka on Thursday, November 5 in the SAFF Championship 2026. Suhail Ahmad Bhat scored twice in the first half and Manglenthang Kipgen added a third before Pakistan hit two stoppage-time goals to narrow the gap.
India began cautiously, preferring to build from the back and establish control in midfield, with Abhishek Suryavanshi deployed in a deeper role. Naushad Moosa’s side delivered a dominant first-half display that left them with a three-goal advantage at the interval. The match tightened late after Pakistan struck twice in stoppage time.
An effort by Bhat in the 12th minute was ruled out for offside, and a minute later Muhammad Suhail collected possession from a throw-in on the left, drove forward and delivered a ball into the penalty area that Bhat turned home to open the scoring. The finish came from Bhat’s run into the six-yard box and a close-range finish.
Bhat added his second in the 19th minute with Abhishek Suryavanshi supplying a precise through ball that split the Pakistan defence; the forward’s timed run and first-time finish found the far corner, leaving goalkeeper Yousuf Butt with little chance. That strike doubled India’s lead inside the opening half-hour.
India extended the advantage in the 31st minute when Noufal PN carried the ball through the middle and released Manglenthang Kipgen with a pass into space behind the backline. Kipgen ran onto the delivery and finished calmly past the advancing Butt to make it 3-0.
Before half-time Pakistan were awarded a penalty after Suryavanshi fouled Hayyaan Khattak, but Shayak Dost sent his spot kick over the crossbar, allowing India to keep their three-goal cushion. Bhat nearly completed a hat-trick on the stroke of half-time with a left-footed effort from outside the box that narrowly missed and left Butt stranded.
In the second half India continued to fashion chances: Adison Singh Thokchom was denied by Butt in a one-on-one, while Kipgen and Farukh also had opportunities without adding to the score. Pakistan goalkeeper Arsh Anwer Shaikh had a relatively quiet evening until stoppage time, when Junaid Shah’s left-sided cross in the 91st minute found Najeeb Ullah to head past Shaikh. Three minutes later McKeal Abdullah’s cross was controlled by Alamgir Ghazi, who produced an acrobatic finish to reduce the deficit to 3-2.
India will next face Maldives in their final Group B fixture on November 11 at 15:00 at the National Stadium in Dhaka. The top two teams from each group will advance to the semi-finals.
