India launched their SAFF Championship 2026 campaign with a hard-fought 3-2 victory over traditional rivals Pakistan in an electrifying opening encounter. The Indian side dominated the opening forty-five minutes of play to build a commanding three-goal cushion, only to face a dramatic late resurgence from their opponents in stoppage time. Holding their nerve under intense late pressure, the Indian players preserved their lead to walk away with maximum points from the tournament curtain-raiser. The match was broadcast live on VETO.
Dominant First Half Powered by Suhail Bhat and Kipgen
The opening half belonged entirely to India, who controlled the tempo and dictated play across every area of the pitch. The deadlock was broken in the 13th minute when Muhammad Suhel produced a darting sprint down the left flank before cutting a measured pass across the face of the Pakistan goal. Suhail Bhat reacted swiftly, calmly guiding the ball into an unguarded net to give India a well-deserved 1-0 advantage.
Building on their momentum, the Indian team struck again in the 19th minute through a sequence crafted from the center of the park. Suryakumar orchestrated the move by threading a clever, pinpoint ball forward into space for Suhail Bhat. Showing excellent composure under pressure, Bhat placed a delicate strike into the bottom right corner of the target, doubling India's tally within the first quarter of the match.
India maintained relentless pressure and widened the margin to 3-0 in the 32nd minute. Nufal produced an uninterrupted dribble past the defensive line before delivering the ball into the path of Kipgen, who unleashed a crisp, decisive strike into the back of the net. Pakistan were handed a lifeline when they were awarded a penalty, but Shayak Dost squandered the golden opportunity by sending his spot kick sailing high over the crossbar. Consequently, the Indian side headed into the break with an unassailable 3-0 cushion.
Stoppage-Time Thriller and Arsh Shaikh's Decisive Goalkeeping
During the early phase of the second half, India continued to manage their 3-0 advantage while the pace of the contest slowed considerably. The Indian bench was fully utilized as all five substitutes were introduced onto the pitch to gain valuable match minutes. During this period, Farooq and Kekal combined to produce several sharp attacking openings, though neither side could convert their opportunities into goals during standard regulation time.
As the clock ticked toward the 90-minute mark, a comfortable clean-sheet victory appeared well within reach for India. However, the game was turned on its head during injury time when Pakistan mounted a sudden and aggressive offensive. In the 91st minute, Najibullah rose highest to pull a goal back for Pakistan with a well-placed header. Just two minutes later in the 93rd minute, Alamgir Ghazi connected with a clean volley to score Pakistan's second goal and narrow the scoreline to 3-2.
With tension mounting in the closing moments and Pakistan pushing hard for an equalizer, Indian goalkeeper Arsh Shaikh stepped up decisively. Shaikh executed vital defensive stops in front of the goalmouth to deny the late onslaught and safeguard the advantage. The final whistle confirmed a pulsating 3-2 victory for India, sealing three vital group-stage points to begin their regional campaign.
