India U-17 beat Singapore 4-2 in AFC U-17 Asian Cup 2027 qualifier

India U-17 defeated Singapore 4-2 in their opening match of the AFC U-17 Asian Cup 2027 qualifying campaign on 11 November 2026, with captain Dallalmuon Gangte scoring a hat-trick.

India fell behind to Ahmad Izzan’s 28′ strike before Gangte levelled one minute later at 29′; he added a 60′ penalty and completed his treble at 83′. The match featured goals at set pieces and from a late Ristik Maity strike at 90′, and the report noted the scoreline concealed defensive shortcomings that coach Mehrajuddin Wadoo will need to address.

Gangte’s three goals arrived in three different ways: a close-range finish at 29′, a 60′ penalty that beat the goalkeeper despite a touch, and an 83′ rebound after David Irom’s shot was parried. He had six attempts in total, with shots at 46′ (side netting) and 53′ among his other openings.

India conceded twice and produced several worrying defensive moments. Maroof Shafi came off his line to close the angle after Lura’s pass found Ahmad Izzan at 28′, allowing Izzan to slot home; earlier Shafi had cleared a danger at 10′, showing mixed decision-making in goal.

Set pieces caused particular problems for India: Singapore struck the crossbar from a 4′ corner, Izzan’s equaliser at 65′ arrived via a powerful header from another corner, and a later Singapore header hit the post. The team weathered those attempts but conceded from dead-ball situations.

India’s first 20 minutes lacked cutting final balls down the flanks and Singapore appeared the more threatening side early on; the visitors improved after half-time as Gangte’s movement and crosses from Sahir and Hrishikesh unsettled Singapore’s defence. Wadoo responded to the 65′ equaliser with substitutions — bringing on Ristik Maity, David Irom and Raj Singh Wahengbam, with Felix Meeitei and Sambay Thiyam introduced later — and Irom’s shot directly led to Gangte’s 83′ rebound before Maity’s 90′ finish, which hit the post and went in after a collision between the Singapore goalkeeper and a defender.

The win gives India three points and a +2 goal difference from the opening match. Singapore had previously beaten Guam 6-0, which suggests they may hold a goal-difference advantage in the group, assuming Guam remain in it, so India may need a more decisive result in their next game to stay competitive on tiebreakers.