Suhail Ahmad Bhat scored twice and Manglenthang Kipgen added a third as defending champions India opened the SAFF Championship with a 3-2 win over Pakistan in Dhaka, holding on after two stoppage-time goals turned a comfortable lead into an anxious finish.
Dhaka, Bangladesh: India fielded a second-string side at the National Stadium on Thursday, with many of their regulars tied up in the Indian Super League and the senior team preparing for friendlies in New Zealand. For half an hour it hardly showed. Noushad Moosa’s team controlled possession and midfield, led 3-0, and then lost intensity after the break, leaving the closing minutes far tighter than the first half had promised.
Three goals before the half-hour
Bhat struck first in the 13th minute, finishing from close range after Mohammed Suhail’s low cross from the left. Six minutes later he made it two when he ran onto a through ball, got clear of the Pakistan defence and slotted past goalkeeper Yousuf Butt.
Kipgen completed the opening burst around the half-hour mark. Noufal drove in from the left and played him through, and Kipgen chipped the advancing Butt to make it 3-0. Pakistan, coached by Nolberto Solano, were being outplayed.
The miss that kept Pakistan alive
The scoreline could have changed shape in the first half. Abhishek Suryavanshi lunged at Hayyan Khattak inside the box and conceded a penalty, but Shayak Dost sent the spot-kick over the crossbar. It left India’s lead intact and Pakistan chasing a three-goal deficit.
Two late goals, one nervy finish
India’s intensity dropped after the break, and Pakistan took the invitation. In stoppage time Najeebullah headed in Junaid Shah’s cross to make it 3-1. Within three minutes Alamgir Ghazi controlled a cross with a clever first touch and finished from a tight angle while turning and falling, making it 3-2. India saw out the remaining time.
Ghazi admitted afterwards that Pakistan’s first half had been poor and that his side scored too late, and he said missing luggage had cost the team its training session the day before. Pakistan now turn to the Maldives, whom Ghazi said they must beat.
What comes next
India, nine-time champions who last won the title in 2023 and are seeking a tenth, are in Group B alongside Pakistan and the Maldives. Pakistan play the Maldives on 8 November, and India meet the Maldives on 11 November at 3 pm local time at the same stadium. The top two teams from each group reach the semi-finals, which makes the opening three points valuable even in a sloppy finish.
SAFF Championship, Group B (5 November, National Stadium, Dhaka): India 3 (Suhail Ahmad Bhat 13’, 19’; Manglenthang Kipgen) Pakistan 2 (Najeebullah, Alamgir Ghazi, both in stoppage time).
