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India reached the SAFF Championship final with a 2-1 victory over Bhutan, thanks to first-half goals from Vishnu PV and Chinglensana Singh Konsham.
News18
India booked their place in the SAFF Championship final after holding off a spirited second-half fightback from Bhutan to secure a 2-1 victory on Saturday, keeping their hopes of winning a record-extending 10th title intact.
Vishnu PV (9th) and captain Chinglensana Singh Konsham (28th) scored in the first half to put the defending champions in control. However, Kinzang Tashi Tobden pulled one back three minutes after the restart to set up a tense finish.
The Video Assistant Referee (VAR), which was introduced in the competition for the first time, proved decisive on two occasions. It overturned an offside decision to allow Bhutan’s goal before ruling out a penalty awarded to India in the second half.
India will take on the winner of the other semifinal between Bangladesh and Pakistan in the November 17 final.
Bhutan, featuring in their first SAFF Championship semifinal in 18 years, began with an organised approach and looked to disrupt India’s passing game. However, India gradually found their rhythm and broke the deadlock in the ninth minute.
A long diagonal ball picked out Vishnu on the left flank. The East Bengal forward controlled it brilliantly, cut inside onto his right foot and nutmegged a defender before finding the bottom-right corner past goalkeeper Gyeltshen Zangpo.
India continued to threaten, with Suhail Ahmad Bhat forcing a save from Zangpo in the 17th minute. Ricky Shabong and Brison Fernandes also came close as the defending champions increased the pressure.
Their second goal arrived in the 28th minute. Kipgen’s corner from the right was not cleared by the Bhutan defence, allowing Chinglensana to pounce on the loose ball and fire it into the net.
India went into half-time with a comfortable two-goal lead after registering six attempts, while Bhutan had failed to manage a single shot on target or off it.
The visitors, however, emerged with renewed purpose after the break and halved the deficit in the 48th minute. Following a free-kick into the Indian box, Gyeltshen collected the ball on the left and sent a low effort towards the far post, where Tobden headed home.
The goal was initially ruled out for offside, but a VAR review overturned the decision. Bhutan nearly drew level five minutes later when Gyeltshen’s effort threatened to dip under the crossbar, only for goalkeeper Arsh to tip it over.
India coach Moosa responded with a double substitution in the 64th minute, bringing on Macarton Nickson and Irfan Yadwad for Kipgen and Vishnu respectively.
Yadwad soon won what appeared to be a penalty after his cross struck Nima Wangdi’s arm inside the box. However, the referee reversed the decision following another VAR intervention.
India had a chance to put the contest beyond Bhutan in the 85th minute when Bhat worked his way into the box and beat a defender with a feint before shooting with his right foot. His effort, though, crashed against the crossbar.
Bhutan continued to push for an equaliser in the closing stages. Gyeltshen’s delivery narrowly evaded substitute Kinzang Tenzin, while Tenzin Tshewang’s headed effort across goal in stoppage time was inches away from finding a teammate.
Norbu also sent a volley wide in the fourth minute of added time as Bhutan’s late pressure failed to produce another goal. India eventually held on to seal a place in the final.
(With PTI Inputs)
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Ask News18Vishnu PV opened the scoring in the ninth minute, and captain Chinglensana Singh Konsham added the second goal in the 28th minute to give India a 2-1 victory.
Ask News18November 14, 2026, 20:23 IST
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