India beat Pakistan in the SAFF Championship 3-2 at the National Stadium in Dhaka on Thursday, ending a tournament opener in which the Shaheens recovered from a three-goal deficit only in stoppage time. Two goals in the closing minutes, including a spectacular overhead kick from Alamgir Ghazi, gave the result a dramatic finish but could not change its outcome, as reported by Dawn.
The Group B defeat leaves the side coached by Nolberto Solano with work to do if it is to progress from the group stage.
How India Beat Pakistan in the SAFF Championship Before the Break
The match was effectively decided in the first half. India took the lead in the 14th minute through Suhail Ahmad Bhat, who finished first time after a swift attacking move. Six minutes later the forward doubled his tally with another clinical finish.
Manglenthang Kipgen then extended the advantage to 3-0 two minutes past the half-hour mark, leaving Pakistan with a considerable task. The Shaheens had a chance to reduce the deficit soon afterwards when Hayyaan Khattak won a penalty following a foul inside the box. However, Shayek Dost blazed his effort over the crossbar, and India carried a three-goal lead into the interval.
Pakistan struggled to impose themselves against their arch-rivals throughout the opening period. The squad was also without several key players who had featured in last month’s FIFA ASEAN Cup, which limited the options available to the coaching staff.
Changes and Injuries Disrupt the Second Half
Nolberto Solano acted early, bringing on striker McKeal Abdullah for defender Waqar Ehtisham Baloch. At half-time, Umar Nawaz and Muhammad Junaid replaced Syed Ali Raza and Ali Uzair Mahmood as the coach sought a more attacking approach.
The second half brought further disruption. Left-back Abdul Rehman and Shayek Dost both had to be withdrawn through injury, with Junaid Shah and Najeebullah coming on as their replacements. India continued to apply pressure, yet Pakistan managed to create opportunities of their own. Najeebullah came close late in the match after being set up by McKeal Abdullah, but his effort was kept out by India goalkeeper Arsh Anwer Shaikh.
Two Stoppage-Time Goals Offer Consolation
The final minutes produced the most memorable moments of the afternoon. In the second minute of stoppage time, Najeebullah powered home a bullet header from a Junaid Shah cross to score his first international goal.
Two minutes later, Alamgir produced a moment of individual brilliance. He collected a pass from McKeal Abdullah with his back to goal, lifted the ball, swivelled and connected with an overhead kick that found the far corner. The strike made it 3-2 and briefly raised the prospect of an unlikely equaliser.
Pakistan pushed forward in search of a leveller, but India held on to claim all three points. The late attacking intent provided some encouragement for the Shaheens, even though the scoreline reflected the gap between the two sides over the course of the match.
What the Result Means for the Group
The defeat places pressure on Pakistan ahead of their final Group B fixture against Maldives on Sunday, November 8. With the top two teams from each group advancing to the last four, a positive result in that match is essential to keep Pakistan’s semi-final hopes alive.
The team’s display in the closing stages offers a basis for optimism, particularly in attack, where Najeebullah and Alamgir both found the net. The first-half performance, however, will be a source of concern. Conceding three goals within 32 minutes and missing a penalty placed too heavy a burden on the later fightback.
Solano will need to address the defensive lapses that allowed India to build such a decisive lead, while also managing the injuries sustained during the opener. If Pakistan can carry the intensity shown in stoppage time into the start of their next match, they will give themselves a realistic opportunity of salvaging their campaign. For now, the fact remains that India beat Pakistan in the SAFF Championship by a single goal, and the Shaheens must respond quickly in Dhaka.
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