SAFF Championship: Bhat penalty sends India into semis as Group B toppers
Synopsis
India topped SAFF Championship Group B with a nervy 1-0 win over Maldives in Dhaka, with Suhail Ahmad Bhat's penalty the difference and goalkeeper Priyansh Dubey blocking a close-range stoppage-time attempt with his face. The defending champions, who had earlier given up a three-goal lead against Pakistan, showed improved game management to reach the November 14 semifinal unbeaten.
Key Takeaways
India beat Maldives 1-0 in their final SAFF Championship Group B match at the National Stadium, Dhaka on 11 November .
Suhail Ahmad Bhat scored from the penalty spot in the 38th minute , taking his tournament tally to three goals .
Goalkeeper Priyansh Dubey made three key saves, including a stoppage-time block with his face to preserve a clean sheet.
India finished Group B with six points , ahead of Pakistan on three; Maldives exited without a point.
India's semifinal is scheduled for 14 November ; opponents to be confirmed after Bangladesh vs Sri Lanka on Wednesday.
Head coach Naushad Moosa made seven changes from the Pakistan match, with Chinglensana Singh Konsham captaining the side.
Suhail Ahmad Bhat's 38th-minute penalty and a string of late saves by goalkeeper Priyansh Dubey steered India into the SAFF Championship semifinals after a 1-0 victory over Maldives in their final Group B match at the National Stadium in Dhaka on Wednesday, 11 November. The defending champions topped the group with six points, heading into the knockouts unbeaten.
How the Goal Came
Abdul Rabeeh dispossessed Hussain Sifaau Yoosuf and was brought down inside the box by the defender. Bhat stepped up and sent goalkeeper Hussain Shareef the wrong way, placing his kick into the bottom-left corner. The strike pushed Bhat's tournament tally to three goals, following his first-half brace in India's earlier win over Pakistan. Manglenthang Kipgen had scored India's other goal in that match.
Dubey's Defining Saves
The clean sheet owed much to Dubey, who replaced Arsh Anwer Shaikh in goal for this fixture. He denied Ali Hamdhaan's free-kick in the 79th minute and kept out Muzdhaan Hassan's effort five minutes later. His most critical intervention arrived in stoppage time, when he rushed off his line and blocked Ethan Ibrahim Zaki's close-range attempt with his face — a moment that preserved both the clean sheet and India's group-topping finish.
Tactical Shifts by Moosa
Head coach Naushad Moosa rang in seven changes from the side that edged Pakistan 3-2, retaining only Abhishek Suryavanshi, Muhammed Uvais, Suhail Ahmad Bhat, and Ricky Shabong. Chinglensana Singh Konsham took the captain's armband after Bijoy Varghese departed for New Zealand. Moosa had flagged the need for sharper concentration and game management after India surrendered a three-goal lead and conceded twice in added time against Pakistan — a warning the squad visibly heeded here.
Group Standings and Semifinal Picture
India finished Group B with six points, ahead of Pakistan on three, while Maldives exited without a single point. India will face either Bangladesh, Bhutan, or Sri Lanka in the semifinal on 14 November. Their opponent will be confirmed after the final Group A clash between Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, which was scheduled for later on Wednesday. With momentum and a settled defensive unit behind them, India will enter the last four as favourites.
Point of View
But India should not need heroics in a group match against a side that finished pointless. Moosa's seven-change rotation also makes reading the first-choice XI difficult heading into the knockouts. The semifinal, against a home-crowd favourite like Bangladesh if Group A plays out that way, will be an entirely different test of nerve.
NationPress
11 Nov 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What was the result of India vs Maldives at the SAFF Championship 2024?
India beat Maldives 1-0 in their final Group B match at the National Stadium in Dhaka on 11 November. Suhail Ahmad Bhat's 38th-minute penalty was the only goal of the game.
Who scored for India against Maldives in the SAFF Championship?
Suhail Ahmad Bhat scored the lone goal from the penalty spot in the 38th minute. It was his third goal of the tournament, having scored twice against Pakistan in India's previous group match.
When and against whom will India play their SAFF Championship semifinal?
India's semifinal is scheduled for 14 November. Their opponents will be confirmed after the final Group A match between Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, played later on Wednesday, 11 November.
How did India finish in Group B of the SAFF Championship?
India topped Group B with six points from two wins, ahead of Pakistan on three points. Maldives finished without a point and were eliminated.
What changes did India head coach Naushad Moosa make for the Maldives match?
Moosa made seven changes from the Pakistan game, retaining Abhishek Suryavanshi, Muhammed Uvais, Suhail Ahmad Bhat, and Ricky Shabong. Priyansh Dubey came in as goalkeeper, and Chinglensana Singh Konsham took over the captaincy in the absence of Bijoy Varghese.
