Doha, Sep 4: India began their AFC U23 Asian Cup 2026 Qualifiers campaign with a 2-0 victory against Bahrain at the Suheim Bin Hamad Stadium here.
Muhammed Suhail (32’) and Chingangbam Shivaldo Singh (90+5’) scored the two goals, as India registered three points in the first game of Group H on Wednesday.
In a frantic match that saw end-to-end action throughout the 90 minutes, the Blue Colts had an early scare in the eighth minute, when Bahrain’s Mahmood Abdulla closed down on India goalkeeper Sahil and managed to steal the ball inside the penalty area.
However, with an open goal staring him in the face, he hit the side-netting.
India gained some composure after that early Bahrain miss and began to construct chances, hitting Bahrain on the break. Striker Parthib Sundar Gogoi had a couple of half-chances around the quarter-hour mark, but lacked the finishing touch.
India’s attacks left them vulnerable at the back, and Abdulla had another chance when he got in behind the defence, but missed again.At the other end, the Blue Colts thought they had scored when Ricky Meetei Haobam threaded a ball through to Mohammed Sanan, who put it past the keeper, but was soon flagged offside.
The breakthrough, for either side, was long coming, and it finally arrived in the 32nd minute through some individual brilliance from Muhammed Suhail. Played in behind on the right flank by Macarton Louis Nickson, Suhail produced some dazzling footwork to turn his marker inside-out, before planting his shot into the bottom corner. (PTI)
