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Friday | November 06, 2026 | Dhaka

Auspicious start for India

 Sports Reporter
 Published: 12:01 AM, 06 November 2026
State Minister for Youth and Sports Md Aminul Haque take part at the trophy unveiling ceremony of the SAFF Championship 2026 as the chief guest at the National Stadium in Dhaka on Thursday. President of Bangladesh Football Federation Tabith Awal was present at the time.

India made an auspicious start in the South Asian Football Federation (SAFF) Championship 2026 after defeating their arch-rivals Pakistan by 3-2 goals in their opening Group-B match at the National Stadium in Dhaka on Thursday.

The first-half match between the two titans of South Asian Region was a one-sided Affairs as India led the first half 3-0.

Suhail Ahmed Bhat of India put his team ahead by tapping the ball into the blank net which he got a cross from his Muhammed Suhail in the 13th minute of the play.

Nathan Asher (right) of India and Mckeal Aroon of Pakistan battle for the ball during their Group-B match of the SAFF Championship 2026 at the ational Stadium in Dhaka on Thursday. Photo: Moin Ahmed

After six minutes Suhail Ahmed Bhat made it 2-0 by deceiving the Pakistani goalie after using a through pass of his teammate Abhishek Dhawan.

Manglenthang Kipgen found the net 3-0 by a shot using a through pass of his teammate Pathenveettil Noushad in the 32nd minute of the match.

After two minutes Pakistan got a golden chance. Abhishek Dhananjay roughly charged Pakistani Mohammad Dhananjay at the small D-box of India.

Thus, the referee awarded a penalty kick in favour of Pakistan. But Shayak Dost struck the penalty shot over the crosspiece.

Kipgen of India missed a golden opportunity as he got the Pakistani custodian alone but he struck the ball over the goalbar in the 52nd minute of the game.

In the 57th minute Pakistani Muhamm Junaid’s shot narrowly passed away the goalbar.

Najib Ullah of Pakistan got the ball at the India small D-box from a shortpass of his teammate sucstitute Mckeal Aroon but Najib Ullah failed to put the ball into the blank net.

Najib Ullah made it 1-3 by a header using a leftside cross of his teammate Juanid Ahmed in the 1st minute of the injury time of the clash

Alamgir Ali’s spectacular side volley found the net (2-3) in the 4th minute of the injury time. Alamgir Ali got the ball from his teammate Mckeal Aroon.

Thus India left the field with a 3-2 goals’ victory. It may be mentioned that Pakistan beat India by a solitary goal in the first match in this venue in the SAFF 2003.