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India opened their SAFF Championship 2026 campaign with a 3-2 win over Pakistan in Dhaka. Suhail Ahmed Bhat scored twice and Manglenthang Kipgen added a third before Pakistan struck twice in stoppage time, narrowing the final margin.
Defending champions India beat Pakistan 3-2 in their SAFF Championship 2026 opener at Dhaka’s National Stadium on Thursday, after Suhail Ahmed Bhat scored twice and Manglenthang Kipgen made it 3-0 before Pakistan mounted a late response. Two goals in stoppage time cut the deficit, but India held on to begin their title defence with a win.
India took control early, with Bhat opening the scoring after a team move ended in Mohammed Suhail’s low cross. The forward scored again after being played through on goal, calmly finishing past Pakistan goalkeeper Yousuf Butt. India’s midfield dominance helped create a third: Noufal sent Kipgen into space, and the midfielder chipped Butt to make it 3-0.
Pakistan had a chance to get back into the match when Abhishek Suryavanshi fouled Hayyan Khattak inside the India penalty area. Shayak Dost sent the resulting penalty over the goal. India remained ahead through a quieter second half, but Pakistan scored twice after stoppage time began. Najeebullah headed in from Junaid Shah’s cross, then Alamgir Ghazi finished from a narrow angle after controlling the ball with his first touch.
The late goals changed the scoreline but not the result. The match report said India’s second-string side featured because many squad members were occupied with the ongoing Indian Super League, while the first team was scheduled to face New Zealand during the international break. India were coached by Noushad Moosa; Pakistan were led by Nolberto Solano.
India Take Early Control of Group Campaign
The victory gives India three points from their opening match and a positive start to their attempt to retain the championship. The three-goal lead also showed the attacking threat of a side assembled while several senior players were unavailable for this tournament squad, with Bhat scoring twice and Kipgen adding another.
Pakistan’s two late goals did not alter the outcome, but they turned a one-sided scoreline into a closer finish and may offer encouragement after a difficult first half. The missed penalty and the timing of the goals are important details: Pakistan’s comeback arrived too late to put the result in doubt, while India will have allowed a comfortable lead to shrink before the final whistle.
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A Changed India Squad in Dhaka
The match was the opening fixture of the 2026 SAFF Championship, played at the National Stadium in Dhaka. ESPN’s report described India as fielding a second-string team: many players were committed to the ongoing ISL, while the first team was due to play New Zealand during the international break. That context helps explain why the tournament side differed from India’s senior international lineup.
India’s three goals came before Pakistan’s late push. Bhat’s brace established the lead, and Kipgen’s finish made it 3-0. Pakistan then missed a penalty before scoring twice in stoppage time. The supplied report gives no full match statistics, group table or detailed schedule for the teams’ remaining fixtures.
““The first half was not good. We could have scored [with the penalty]. We were better in the second, but we scored too late.””
— Alamgir Ghazi, Pakistan forward
Group Standings and Squad Availability
The supplied report does not specify the group standings after the opener, India’s next opponent, or the dates of either team’s next match. It also does not provide a full account of which players will be available for later fixtures. Ghazi said Pakistan expected players to arrive in time for a semifinal, but the report does not detail who was absent or confirm their arrival plans.
There is also no full statistical breakdown to quantify possession, shots or the teams’ overall chances. The confirmed result is a 3-2 India win; broader conclusions about either side’s form across the tournament cannot be established from this match report alone.
Pakistan Target a Response Against Maldives
Pakistan’s stated priority is its next match against Maldives. Ghazi said the team needed to win that game and hoped additional players would join in time for a semifinal. The supplied information does not confirm the fixture date or whether those players will be available.
India will carry the opening-match victory into the rest of its title defence. Its next opponent and schedule are not specified in the report. The team’s immediate task is to build on the first-half attacking display while avoiding a repeat of the late lapse that allowed Pakistan to score twice.
Key Questions
What was the final score between India and Pakistan?
India won 3-2 in the SAFF Championship 2026 opener at Dhaka’s National Stadium on November 5.
Who scored for India?
Suhail Ahmed Bhat scored twice, and Manglenthang Kipgen scored India’s third goal.
Who scored Pakistan’s goals?
Najeebullah and Alamgir Ghazi scored in stoppage time, after Pakistan had trailed 3-0.
Why did India field a second-string team?
ESPN reported that many squad members were occupied with the ongoing Indian Super League, while India’s first team was scheduled to play New Zealand during the international break.
What did Pakistan say about its next match?
Alamgir Ghazi said Pakistan wanted to beat Maldives in its second game. The report does not give the fixture date.
Source: espn.in
