Suhail Ahmad Bhat’s double inspires Blue Tigers as nerve-wracking finish ends in 3-2 triumph.
Defending champions India kicked off their SAFF Championship 2026 campaign with a win, defeating Pakistan 3-2 in an entertaining Group B encounter at the National Stadium in Dhaka on Thursday. A dominant first-half performance seemed to settle the contest early, but Pakistan’s spirited late resurgence made the final moments far more dramatic than expected.
India entered the match with confidence and quickly asserted control through controlled possession and sharp attacking moves. Their positive approach paid dividends after an initially disallowed goal by Suhail Ahmad Bhat, whose early effort was ruled out for offside.
The young striker refused to be discouraged and soon opened the scoring. A well-worked move down the left flank saw Muhammad Suhail deliver an inviting pass into the penalty area, and Bhat arrived at the perfect moment to guide the ball into the net. The breakthrough boosted India’s confidence and intensified their attacking rhythm.
Just minutes later, Bhat struck again. Midfielder Abhishek Suryavanshi spotted the forward’s intelligent run beyond the defensive line and delivered a precise through ball. Bhat controlled the situation expertly, finishing with composure to score his second goal of the evening and give India a comfortable cushion.
Pakistan struggled to contain India’s pace and movement, and the pressure led to a third goal before the half-hour mark. Noufal PN carried the ball forward with purpose before releasing Manglenthang Kipgen into space. The forward kept his composure and slotted home past goalkeeper Yousuf Butt, extending India’s lead to 3-0.
Pakistan had a chance to reduce the deficit before half-time when they were awarded a penalty. However, Shayak Dost failed to capitalise, sending his effort over the bar and allowing India to head into the break with a commanding advantage intact.
The second half followed a similar pattern, with India continuing to create opportunities. Several chances came their way, but a combination of missed finishing and strong goalkeeping kept the scoreline unchanged. Despite controlling much of the game, India couldn’t deliver the decisive fourth goal.
The closing stages brought an unexpected twist. Deep into stoppage time, Najeeb Ullah headed home from a cross to pull one back for Pakistan. Moments later, Alamgir Ghazi scored a fine goal to make it 3-2, suddenly putting India under pressure.
Pakistan’s late surge threatened a remarkable comeback, but India held their nerve in the final moments. The victory gives the reigning champions a strong start to their title defence and valuable momentum ahead of their next group-stage clash with Maldives.
