Suhail Ahmad Bhat’s 38th-minute penalty gave India a 1-0 win over Maldives in Dhaka, taking them into the SAFF Championship semi-finals as Group B winners. Goalkeeper Priyansh Dubey made three late saves, the last in stoppage time, to protect the clean sheet.
Dhaka, Bangladesh: India needed a draw to reach the last four and a win to top the group, and they got both without a goal from open play. A first-half penalty, converted by Bhat, and a goalkeeper who blocked a close-range effort with his face in stoppage time were enough to finish Group B on six points at the National Stadium.
The penalty that settled it
The decisive moment came in the 38th minute. Abdul Rabeeh won the ball from Maldives’ Hussain Sifaau Yoosuf and was brought down inside the box. Suhail Ahmad Bhat stepped up, sent goalkeeper Hussain Shareef the wrong way and placed his kick into the bottom-left corner. It was his third goal of the tournament, after the first-half brace that helped India beat Pakistan 3-2 in the SAFF Championship opener, in which Manglenthang Kipgen scored India’s other goal. Bhat had also tested Shareef with a near-post effort earlier in the half.
A changed side and a Dubey masterclass
Naushad Moosa, who is in charge of the squad in Dhaka while the senior team prepares for friendlies against New Zealand, made seven changes from the Pakistan game. Abhishek Suryavanshi, Muhammed Uvais, Bhat and Ricky Shabong kept their places. Priyansh Dubey replaced Arsh Anwer Shaikh in goal, and Chinglensana Singh Konsham took the armband after Bijoy Varghese left to join the senior squad for the New Zealand friendlies.
Irfan Yadwad and Kipgen replaced Rabeeh and Macarton Nickson at half-time, Vishnu PV came on for Bhat in the 65th minute and Ebindas Yesudasan for Brison Fernandes in the 78th. India defended a one-goal lead for most of the second half, and Dubey earned it. He saved Ali Hamdhaan’s free-kick in the 79th minute and Muzdhaan Hassan’s shot about five minutes later. In stoppage time he rushed out to block Ethan Ibrahim Zaki’s close-range attempt with his face.
Lessons from the Pakistan game
The clean sheet mattered to Moosa. He had criticised his side’s concentration and game management after India conceded twice in added time against Pakistan, a match in which they led 3-0 before half-time. Against Maldives, there were no such lapses on the scoreboard, though Dubey had to be sharp at the finish.
Semi-final next
Pakistan finished second in Group B on three points and Maldives ended without a point. India now play the Group A runner-up in the semi-final on 14 November, with the opponent to be confirmed once Bangladesh and Sri Lanka complete their final group match.
SAFF Championship 2026, Group B: India 1-0 Maldives
Goal: Suhail Ahmad Bhat (India), 38th minute, penalty.
Venue: National Stadium, Dhaka, 11 November 2026.
Group B final standings: India 6 points, Pakistan 3, Maldives 0.
