India began its AFC Under-23 Asian Cup 2026 Qualifiers campaign with a 2-0 victory against Bahrain at the Suheim Bin Hamad Stadium in Doha, Qatar, on Wednesday.
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.
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 its opponent on the break.
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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.
If the first half seemed frantic, the second half only served to increase the pace of the game. Both sides attacked, Bahrain looking for the equaliser, while India tried to hit it on the break and gain the two-goal cushion.
Bahrain had a disallowed goal of its own, when Sayed Mahmood Almoosawi’s cross was blocked, but the rebound fell kindly for him to place it into the Indian goal. Much to his dismay, he was flagged offside.
The trailing side grew desperate as the match rolled into injury-time, creating more spaces for India to exploit on the counter. Bahrain keeper Abdulla Ali Ahmed stood in India’s way, expertly saving substitute Sahil Harijan’s shot.
However, the Bahrain goal was breached a second time with just seconds left on the clock, when Sreekuttan produced a delicious cross from the left, as a diving Shivaldo only had to ensure a good enough touch to tap it in, securing the win for the Blue Colts.
Published on Sep 03, 2025