Football
India 1-0 Maldives: Bhat Penalty and Dubey Save Send India Into SAFF Championship Semi-Finals
Suhail Ahmad Bhat scored from the spot in the 39th minute, and goalkeeper Priyansh Dubey stopped a 4v3 counter-attack in stoppage time as India finished top of Group B with six points.
India beat the Maldives 1-0 in Dhaka on Wednesday to win Group B of the Tecno SAFF Championship and reach the semi-finals. A penalty from Suhail Ahmad Bhat in the 39th minute settled the match, and Priyansh Dubey protected the clean sheet with a brilliant save in stoppage time.
Source: official Tecno SAFF Championship match report, match 5.
A penalty, a lead and a hold-on
India came into the final group match with three points from their 3-2 win over Pakistan on 5 November. The Maldives had lost 3-0 to Pakistan on 8 November. India needed only a draw to win the group, and they took the lead before the break: Bhat stepped up and converted a penalty in the 39th minute.
It was the only goal of the match. The first half ended 1-0 after three minutes of stoppage time, and the second half finished goalless after four. Macarton Louis Nickson was booked on the stroke of half-time, and India made two changes at the break, Manglenthang Kipgen and Irfan Yadwad coming on for Nickson and Abdul Rabeeh Anjukandan.
Dubey stands his ground
Priyansh Dubey
In the first minute of second-half stoppage time, the Maldives broke at pace and had a 4v3 against India’s defence.
Dubey stood his ground and made a brilliant stop, and India’s lead survived.
It was the moment that decided the match. India held a one-goal lead for more than 50 minutes, and the save kept it intact until the final whistle.
How the match unfolded
Goal, India. Suhail Ahmad Bhat scores from the penalty spot. India 1-0.
Yellow card for Macarton Louis Nickson.
Half-time: India 1-0 Maldives, after three minutes of first-half stoppage time.
India change two: Manglenthang Kipgen replaces Nickson, Irfan Yadwad replaces Abdul Rabeeh Anjukandan. Maldives bring on Mohamed Naim for Naiz Hassan.
Maldives: Ethan Ibrahim Zaki replaces Ibrahim Mahudhee Hussain.
India: Vishnu Puthiya Valappil replaces goalscorer Suhail Ahmad Bhat.
India: Ebindas Yesudassan replaces Brison Deuben. Maldives make two changes: Ali Hamdhaan and Muzdhaan Hassan.
Maldives: Abdulla Looth Ibrahim replaces Ahmed Aiham.
Priyansh Dubey stands tall. A quick Maldives counter leaves a 4v3 on India’s defence, and the goalkeeper makes a brilliant stop to protect the lead.
Full-time: India 1-0 Maldives, after four minutes of second-half stoppage time.
India’s team
| # | Player |
|---|---|
| 1 | Priyansh Dubey (GK) |
| 4 | C Singh Konsham Abhishek (captain) |
| 2 | Dhananjay Suryavanshi |
| 5 | Muhammed Uvais Moyikkal |
| 6 | Abdul Rabeeh Anjukandan (off 46′) |
| 7 | Suhail Ahmad Bhat (off 65′) |
| 12 | Khaiminthang Lhungdim |
| 14 | Ricky John Shabong |
| 15 | Macarton Louis Nickson (off 46′) |
| 25 | Sandip Mandi |
| 26 | Brison Deuben (off 78′) |
| # | Player |
|---|---|
| 16 | Manglenthang Kipgen (on 46′) |
| 28 | Irfan Yadwad (on 46′) |
| 9 | Vishnu Puthiya Valappil (on 65′) |
| 21 | Ebindas Yesudassan (on 78′) |
| 13 | Mohanraj Kaithamalai (unused) |
| 18 | N N Jayantha Prabhu (unused) |
| 22 | Adison Singh (unused) |
| 23 | Arsh Anwer Shaikh (unused) |
| 27 | Nathan Asher (unused) |
Group B: India on top
| # | Team | P | W | D | L | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | India | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | +2 | 6 |
| 2 | Pakistan | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | +2 | 3 |
| 3 | Maldives | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | -4 | 0 |
India won both of their group games, 3-2 against Pakistan and 1-0 against the Maldives. Pakistan, who had already secured their semi-final place, finish second. The top two teams in each group go through.
What’s next
India vs Group A runner-up
Saturday 14 November · 2:30 PM IST (3:00 PM Bangladesh time)
National Stadium, Dhaka
As Group B winners, India meet the Group A runner-up in the first semi-final. That opponent is decided by Bangladesh against Sri Lanka, which kicks off at 7:30 PM IST on Wednesday. The final is on Tuesday 17 November.
Match facts
Match details from the official Tecno SAFF Championship match report. Earlier group results from Dawn, Open Magazine and The Daily Star. Video frames: VETO. Fixture times converted to IST.
