India beat Pakistan 3-2 in their SAFF Championship 2026 opener. Suhail Bhatt scored twice and Kipgen added another goal for India. Pakistan fought back with late strikes from Ullah and Ghazi, but India held on. Pakistan will face Maldives on November 8, while India plays the same opponent on November 11.
India weathered a late surge from Pakistan to take all three points in its SAFF Championship 2026 opener.
A positive first half saw Suhail Bhatt score a brace, while Kipgen also found the back of the net for the Blue Tigers.
The second half saw India’s intensity drop, but it held on before two late strikes from Ullah and Ghazi destroyed India’s hopes of keeping a clean sheet.
Pakistan will next face Maldives on November 8, while India will take on the same opponent on November 11.
Ebindas has the ball and a lot of space on the left side, but the substitute should have done better with his crossing, as his pass ends up going all the way back on the far side.
Nevertheless, Lhungdim manages to reach the ball and strike it the first time, but sends it sailing over the bar.
And that is it for now!
A completely dominant performance from India, which made sure to be clinical in front of goal. Suhail Bhat has a half to remember, as his brace, paired with Kipgen’s strike, puts India in the driving seat.
Pakistan will feel disappointed as it started the game in good shape, which began to break apart as the half played on. It will be especially discouraging as it failed to take its best chance of the game from the spot, with Shayak Dost blasting his effort over the bar.
Kipgen finds Suhail Bhat with a long ball over the top. The 21-year-old is searching for a hat-trick as he gets to the edge of the box before shooting with his left.
The ball ends up going just wide of the right post.
Two minutes of added time to play in the first half.
Kipgen scores! India is running away with the game now!
Noufal gets the ball inside India’s half and initiates an attack after no opposition player puts pressure on him. He dribbles his way into the final third before threading the ball through for Kipgen, who takes a touch into the box before shooting.
The Pakistan goalkeeper manages to get a touch on the ball, but it is not enough to keep it from reaching the back of the net.
In a packed November schedule, the Indian men’s football team will play four matches and, in effect, field two different teams.
It’s not an uncommon phenomenon in modern sports, as evidenced by the country’s men’s cricket team, which fielded two different sides at the Asian Games and the home ODI series against the West Indies in September.
The first match kicks off on Thursday, against Pakistan in the 2026 SAFF Championship in Dhaka. India has a depleted squad, an under-23 coach – Naushad Moosa – in charge, and a title to defend.
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India vs Pakistan, SAFF Championship 2026 – What the defending champion can expect in IND v PAK
India’s SAFF 2026 opener vs Pakistan amid a depleted squad, amid challenges and potential upsets by Maldives, in Dhaka.