India vs Pakistan Highlights, SAFF Cup: India Avoid Late Scare To Beat Pakistan 3-2 In Opener

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IND vs PAK Football, 2026 SAFF Championship Highlights: Suhail Ahmad Bhat's first-half brace ensured India survived a late scare to beat Pakistan 3-2 in their SAFF Championship opener in Dhaka on Thursday. India led 3-0 in regulation time before Pakistan pulled two goals back in stoppage time to set up a grandstand finish. However, India held on to kick off their title defence with a win. Bhat, the 21-year-old from Jammu and Kashmir, netted twice in the space of six minutes to put India in command. The Mohun Bagan forward opened the scoring in the 13th minute, arriving at the far post to convert a low, driven cross from Muhammad Suhail. Bhat then doubled India's advantage six minutes later, latching on to a perfectly weighted through ball from Ricky before applying a clinical finish. Punjab FC's Kipgen added a third before Pakistan missed a penalty.

India vs Pakistan LIVE Updates: End of the coverage!

A 3-0 win would have been more than enough for India to put one foot in the semi-finals, as it would have significantly boosted their goal difference. However, the two late goals mean they will have to avoid defeat against Maldives to ensure there are no hiccups in their qualification bid.

That's a wrap from us for today. Thanks for tuning in!

India vs Pakistan LIVE Updates: Full-Time in Dhaka!

That's full-time at the National Stadium in Dhaka! India survive a late scare to beat Pakistan 3-2 in their SAFF Championship Group B opener. Two stoppage-time goals from Pakistan put India on the back foot in the dying moments of the game. However, it proved too little, too late as India held on for all three points. The scoreline, however, hardly reflects India's dominance. Naushad Moosa's men were far superior to their opponents for large parts of the contest. Suhail Ahmad Bhat ran the Pakistan defence ragged in the first half and was unfortunate not to complete his hat-trick. Nonetheless, it is a big win for India to kick off their campaign.

India vs Pakistan LIVE Updates: What a goal!

93' - GOAL FOR PAKISTAN! What a strike from Ghazi! The veteran takes a touch to set himself before unleashing a first-time volley under pressure from an Indian defender. The effort flies past the goalkeeper, who has absolutely no chance of getting to it. Pakistan have now scored twice in the space of three minutes and suddenly there is late drama in Dhaka.

IND 3-2 PAK

India vs Pakistan LIVE Updates: Pakistan pull one back!

90' - GOAL FOR PAKISTAN! Pakistan pull one back deep into stoppage time through Najeeb Ullah. Junaid delivers a superb cross into the box, and Najeeb Ullah rises highest to power a header into the back of the net. A deserved consolation goal for Pakistan after a spirited second-half display.

IND 3-1 PAK

India vs Pakistan LIVE Updates: Some complaints from Pakistan!

85' - Pakistan appeal for a foul! Mohammad Hayyan Khattak goes down after being outmuscled by two Indian players. The referee waves play on, judging the challenge to be fair, and rightly so. The Pakistan No. 9 appeals for a foul, suggesting he was stamped on during the tussle, but the official is unmoved. Just five minutes of regulation time remain in Dhaka.

IND 3-0 PAK

India vs Pakistan LIVE Updates: Chance for India!

79' - Another chance for India! A cross is whipped in from the left flank towards the centre of the box, but Pakistan manage to get a crucial clearance in just in time. The ball was heading towards Farukh, who would have had a simple tap-in. Pakistan are completely on the ropes at the moment.

IND 3-0 PAK

India vs Pakistan LIVE Updates: More trouble for Pakistan!

72' - Another injury concern for Pakistan! Haseeb Khan goes down after blocking a cross behind for a corner. The physios are immediately called onto the pitch to assess him. Pakistan are temporarily down to 10 men and will have to defend the resulting corner without one of their key defenders.

IND 3-0 PAK

India vs Pakistan LIVE Updates: Double change for India!

60' - Double change for India! Naushad Moosa rings the changes as both Muhammad Suhail and Suhail Ahmad Bhat make way. That means there will be no hat-trick for Bhat, who scored twice in a dominant first-hour display. Farukh and Ebindas are introduced for the final 30 minutes of regulation time.

IND 3-0 PAK

India vs Pakistan LIVE Updates: Blow for Pakistan!

58' - Injury concern for Pakistan! Abdul Rehman is taken off the field on a stretcher after going down with what appears to be a hamstring injury. The Pakistan player is in tears as he leaves the pitch, and the visitors will be forced into a substitution.

IND 3-0 PAK

India vs Pakistan LIVE Updates: Chance for Pakistan!

56' - Ghazi's attempt blocked! Khattak plays a superb outside-of-the-boot pass into the path of Ghazi. The veteran produces a clever feint to send one defender to the ground and creates space for a shot. However, India's defenders react quickly, closing him down and blocking the effort before it can trouble the goalkeeper.

IND 3-0 PAK

India vs Pakistan LIVE Updates: Big chance!

50' - Big chance for India! Once again, the two Suhails combine brilliantly. Muhammad Suhail plays a neat one-two with Suhail Ahmad Bhat, who threads a through ball between the Pakistan defenders. Muhammad Suhail times his run perfectly but takes a heavy touch inside the box, allowing the goalkeeper to rush off his line and gather the ball.

IND 3-0 PAK

India vs Pakistan LIVE Updates: 2nd-half underway!

46' - The second half starts with the change of sides.

IND 3:0 PAK

India vs Pakistan LIVE Updates: Big miss from Suhail!

38' - That was the hat-trick right there! Noufal does brilliantly down the flank and whips a cross into the box. His delivery somehow finds Suhail Ahmad Bhat, who looks certain to complete his hat-trick, but the forward takes a wild swing at the ball and fires his effort well wide of the target. A massive chance goes begging for India.

IND 3:0 PAK

India vs Pakistan LIVE Updates: Bizarre penalty!

35' - Pakistan miss a golden chance! Pakistan win a penalty after Mohammad Hayyan Khattak is brought down inside the box by Abhishek. The referee points straight to the spot. Shayak Dost steps up to take the penalty, but it's a dreadful effort from the Pakistan No. 11 as he blazes his shot well over the crossbar.

IND 3:0 PAK

India vs Pakistan LIVE Updates: Kipgen makes it 3-0!

32' - GOAL! Kipgen makes it 3-0 for India! India are three goals to the good as Kipgen latches on to a through ball from Noufal. The Punjab FC midfielder races clear, and although the goalkeeper rushes off his line to block the effort, the ball somehow finds its way into the back of the net.

IND 3:0 PAK

India vs Pakistan LIVE Updates: Corner wasted!

23' - Better play from Pakistan! Mohammad Hayyan Khattak floats in a corner towards the far post, but the delivery is poor as Arsh comes out to punch it. Bijoy tries to clear the ball but gets fouled in the process. He wins a free-kick for India.

IND 2:0 PAK

India vs Pakistan LIVE Updates: Suhail doubles India's lead!

19' - GOAL! India double their advantage through Suhail Ahmad Bhat.

What a finish from the forward! A defence-splitting through ball from Ricky carves open the Pakistan backline, and Suhail Ahmad Bhat times his run to perfection. Racing clear, he keeps his composure and curls a superb effort into the top-right corner beyond the goalkeeper.

The two Mohun Bagan teammates combine brilliantly as India extend their lead in Dhaka.

IND 2:0 PAK

India vs Pakistan LIVE Updates: GOAL for India!

13' - Suhail Ahmad Bhat puts India ahead! A driven cross from the wing finds the forward in the box, and he makes no mistake, glancing a header beyond Pakistan goalkeeper Yousuf Ijaz Butt. And there's a familiar celebration to follow, as Suhail pulls out Cristiano Ronaldo's trademark 'Siuuu' celebration after opening the scoring in Dhaka.

IND 1:0 PAK

India vs Pakistan LIVE Updates: Corner for India!

4' - India win the first corner of the match! Nikhil Prabhu plays a long ball towards Suhail, who does well to get on the end of it and forces the Pakistan defence into conceding an early corner for the Blue Tigers.

IND 0:0 PAK

India vs Pakistan LIVE Updates: Early chance for India!

3' - Early chance for India! The two Suhails combine as Muhammad Suhail rises highest to win a header, which falls kindly for Suhail Ahmad Bhat. The Mohun Bagan forward attempts a first-time volley, but gets underneath it and sends his effort well over the crossbar.

IND 0:0 PAK

India vs Pakistan LIVE Updates: Kick-off!

Pakistan's Mohammad Hayyan Khattak gets us underway in Dhaka. The Men in Green will attack from left to right in the opening half.

India vs Pakistan LIVE Updates: Approaching kick-off!

The players are out of the tunnel for the national anthems. Pakistan's anthem will be played first, followed by India's. Bijoy Varghese will wear the captain's armband for the Blue Tigers this evening.

India vs Pakistan LIVE Updates: Second-string teams for both sides!

As expected, both sides have named second-string line-ups. Several senior Indian players have not been released by their ISL clubs. Pakistan face a similar issue, with more than half of their first-team players plying their trade outside the country. However, they still have some recognisable names in their ranks.

India vs Pakistan LIVE Updates: Here's Pakistan's starting XI against India

India vs Pakistan LIVE Updates: India's starting XI!

India U-23 coach Naushad Moosa, who is in charge of the team for the tournament, has opted for a 4-3-3 formation for the opener against Pakistan. The two Suhails will lead the line alongside Noufal P.N., while Arsh Anwer Shaikh starts between the sticks. The good news for India is that Valpuia returns to the starting XI.

India XI: Arsh (GK); Valpuia, Nikhil, Bijoy, Uvais; Ricky, Suryavanshi, Kipgen; Suhail, Suhail, Noufal.

Substitutes: Dubey, Lhungdim, Farukh, Ebindas, Adison, Nathan.

India vs Pakistan LIVE Updates: India's dominance!

India boast a strong head-to-head record against Pakistan, having won 16 of their 29 previous meetings, while Pakistan have emerged victorious only four times. In fact, India have never lost to Pakistan in a senior international match in 21 years.

India vs Pakistan LIVE Updates: Two groups of three teams each!

India, the record nine-time champions, are in Group B alongside former champions Maldives and Pakistan. Pakistan's best finishes in the tournament came in 1997, when they finished third, and in 2018, when they ended as joint-third.

Group A, meanwhile, comprises hosts Bangladesh, former champions Sri Lanka, and Bhutan, whose best finish came in 2008 when they ended as joint-third.

India vs Pakistan LIVE Updates: Second-string Indian team!

India have named a young 28-member squad for the tournament, with the senior national team's focus firmly on the two friendlies against New Zealand in Auckland and Christchurch on November 12 and 15, respectively. Eighteen players arrived in Dhaka on Tuesday, while the remaining 10 will join the squad after being released by their respective ISL clubs for the FIFA international window next week.

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