Khattak tries to capitalise on a poor clearance from Bijoy inside the Indian box, and he ends up being caught by a late tackle from Suryavanshi.
The referee has a good look and points to the spot.
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.
Pakistan is having a considerably longer spell of possession now. But nothing comes out of it as a long ball attempt from the back comes straight to Arsh in India’s goal.
Valpuia gives away a free kick on the left side of the box as he almost sits on the ball while trying to shield it.
But the set piece from Pakistan is poor, and India regains possession.
Pakistan gets two corners, one at each end. The second one from the left is the more threatening one and debutant Arsh has to come of his line and punch the ball away from danger.
Suhail Bhat makes its two!
Suryavanshi gets the ball in the middle of the pitch and beautifully threads it through for Bhat, who makes a good run in behind his man.
The Mohun Bagan forward takes his time inside the box and opens up his body to place the ball into the bottom right corner.
India is looking more and more confident now as they move the ball around with more pace. The Pakistan players are struggling to keep up at the moment.
Suhail Bhat scores! Lovely build-up from the Blue Tigers!
Muhammed Suhail races down the left wing after the ball is played into his path. He takes his time and gets deep before squaring the ball across the face of the goal.
Suhail Bhat is there and easily dispatches the ball into an empty net.
Prabhu with another long ball for Bhat, and this time he manages to get behind Ullah and into the box. However, the Pakistan centre-back recovers well and pokes the ball away for a corner.
Now it’s Pakistan’s turn to threaten as Ali Raza carries the ball into the opposition half. He is given a free run into the box before Bijoy sticks out a leg to win it and clear it away from danger.
India is getting the feel for the ball now as they pass the ball around the back. A long ball is then played forward and Suhail Bhat lays it off to Kipgen, whose shot sails over the frame of the goal.
While we wait for the match to start, take a moment to give your predictions in the poll above and wait till the end of the game to see how close you were.
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.
