India Beat Bhutan 2-1 in Dhaka to Reach SAFF Final After VAR Drama
India beat Bhutan 2-1 in the first semifinal of the SAFF Championship at the National Stadium in Dhaka to reach the final. Bhutan, trailing by two goals, pulled one back through a VAR decision in the second half, but the defending champions held on for the win.
India pressed from the start and went ahead in the eighth minute. PV Vishnu controlled a long pass from a teammate in front of the box, slipped the ball through the legs of Bhutan defender Nima Wangdi and sent a right-footed shot in off the far post.
The lead doubled in the 27th minute. From the scramble created by a corner, captain Chinglensana Singh volleyed the ball, and it deflected into the net.
India had chances to extend the lead further in the first half, but striker Suhail Ahmad Bhat could not take them. His efforts were blocked at times by goalkeeper Gyeltshen Zangpo and at times by defender Tenzin Norbu, and he also missed an easy chance from a Vishnu cross.
The picture changed after the break. Bhutan, who reached the semifinals without a win in the group stage, attacked with fresh energy, led from the front by captain Chencho Gyeltshen, and pressure grew on the Indian defence.
Bhutan then scored with the help of the remote Video Assistant Referee (VAR) technology, used for the first time in the SAFF Championship. Just after the restart, Kinzang Tashi Tobden headed the ball into the net from a Chencho effort. The assistant referee had raised the offside flag, but after a VAR check the referee awarded the goal, cutting the margin to 2-1 and sharply raising the tension.
Bhutan grew more attacking in search of an equaliser. Goalkeeper Arsh Anwar Sheikh barely kept out a deflected shot from Chencho to save India.
VAR came into focus again when a cross from Irfan Yadwad struck the hand of Bhutan's Nima Wangdi and the referee awarded India a penalty. After watching the replay on VAR, he reversed the decision, bringing relief to the Bhutan camp.
India spent the closing stages dealing with Bhutan's pressure. In the group stage they had led Pakistan 3-0 before eventually winning 3-2, conceding twice in added time, and those memories returned late on. This time, however, they conceded no further goal.
Bhutan had reached a SAFF semifinal for the first time since 2008. Eighteen years ago they lost 2-1 to this same India side in the semifinal; this time they lost by the same margin again.
The win takes India into the SAFF final for a record 14th time. Their opponents in the final on 17 November will be decided in the second semifinal, where Bangladesh face Pakistan at 8:30pm.
