New Delhi, March 28 – The India U23 men’s national team defeated Bhutan 5-0 in the U23 Tri-Nation Championship 2026 at the Golden Jubilee Stadium in Yupia, Arunachal Pradesh, on Saturday.
Suhail Ahmad Bhat (51’, 81’) scored a brace, while Ricky Meetei Haobam (44’), Tomba Singh Haobam (79’), and Muhammed Ajsal (85’) each scored one.
This victory puts India at the top of the table in the U23 Tri-Nation Championship. The Blue Colts are level on points (three) with Tajikistan, who had defeated Bhutan 1-0 earlier this week.
The India U23s, coached by Naushad Moosa, dominated the game from the start, but missed several early chances. However, it was in the 23rd minute that they finally broke the deadlock.
Adison Singh Thokchom surged down the right flank and whipped in a cross that swerved in mid-air and headed towards the top corner; to Bhutan goalkeeper Locho Nima's relief, it hit the crossbar and went out of play.
The Blue Colts continued to press, and finally took the lead just minutes before half-time, when Ricky struck the ball from outside the box to beat the goalkeeper, slotting it into the bottom corner.
Encouraged by the goal, the home side came out strong in the second half and extended their lead within six minutes of the restart. Adison, who was played through into the Bhutan box, squared the ball with the outside of his right foot to Suhail, who calmly poked it past the keeper.
India looked intent on building a bigger lead, and came close to scoring more on a couple of occasions. In the 71st minute, Ajsal was played through behind the defence and tried to chip the keeper, but Bhutan defender Gayden Rinchen was alert to the danger and cleared it off the line.
Bhutan captain Pema Zangpo then pulled off a goalline clearance, just a few minutes later, when Huidrom Thoi Singh was played through on the right after an intricate free-kick. The India substitute drilled it goalwards, as the ball slipped through the goalkeeper's legs. Zangpo, alert to the danger, rushed in to head it off the line.
The floodgates truly opened in the 79th minute, when substitute Tomba Singh Haobam blasted one from outside the box, into the bottom corner, making it 3-0. A couple of minutes later, Suhail was played through on the right, rushed into the box and laced it to bulge the net, adding India's fourth goal.
Suhail then provided an assist for India's fifth goal, as he chipped an aerial through ball to Ajsal, who ran in between the defensive lines to take a touch inside the box, and finish.
With the match finally coming to an end, the India U23s moved to the top of the table. The Blue Colts will now play Tajikistan in the final on March 31 at the Golden Jubilee Stadium at 19:00 IST.
The Blue Colts need a draw to win the tournament, while Tajikistan will require three points.
