India are through to the SAFF Championship final after beating Bhutan 2-1 at the National Stadium in Dhaka on Saturday. The nine-time champions reach the title match for the 14th time, while Bhutan’s bid for a first-ever final ended in heartbreak.
Bhutan had one last chance to force extra time. In stoppage time, Kimjang Tenzing was unmarked at the far post but could not connect with Deichung Dorji’s header across goal. The final whistle followed soon after, leaving the Bhutan players crestfallen.
Bhutan carried most of the second-half threat. India’s goalkeeper Arsh Anwar Sheikh kept out Chencho Gyeltshen’s effort in the 53rd minute, and Sohail Ahmed Bhat struck the crossbar for India in the 84th, the closest the winners came to a third goal.
VAR also made history, being used for the first time at a SAFF Championship, and both major reviews went Bhutan’s way. Footage from Dhaka was sent to a remote control room in Thailand, where video officials advised the referee on each decision.
India thought they had a penalty around the hour mark after a handball appeal inside the box. A VAR check led the referee to overturn it, a decision that kept the margin at a single goal and kept Bhutan’s hopes alive.
Bhutan’s comeback began shortly after the restart. Kinjang Tashi Tobden headed in Chencho’s pass, but the assistant referee flagged for offside. VAR showed the forward was marginally onside, the goal stood, and it was 2-1, the first SAFF goal awarded that way.
India had built that cushion early. Vishnu Puthiyal gave them the lead inside the first ten minutes with a right-footed finish, and Bhutan’s goalkeeper had to keep out Sohail Ahmed Bhat’s effort in the 16th minute as the defending champions looked sharp.
The second goal arrived in the 27th minute after a corner. Konsham Singh scored from inside a crowded box, and India went in at the break 2-0 up, with Chencho twice failing to convert chances for Bhutan before half-time.
The result sets up a final on Tuesday. India will meet the winner of the second semi-final between Bangladesh and Pakistan, which kicks off at 8:30pm on Saturday, with a 10th title as the prize.