Defending champions India made a strong start to their
Late Pakistan Rally Fails to Overturn India's Lead
Despite India's control for the majority of the match, Pakistan managed to salvage some pride with two goals during stoppage time. Najeeb Ullah headed home in the 91st minute from a Junaid Shah cross, and Alamgir Ghazi added a second three minutes later with an acrobatic finish following a delivery from McKeal Abdullah. However, the late surge came too late to threaten India's hold on the match.
The contest saw India field a second-string side under the guidance of Under-23 coach Naushad Moosa. With the tournament falling outside the official FIFA match window, several Indian Super League clubs had not yet released their full squads, leaving Moosa with only 17 players available for the opener. Pakistan also faced personnel challenges, missing key players such as Danish-born defender Abdullah Iqbal for the same reason.
India’s tactical discipline was evident early on, as they looked to control the midfield and exploit space behind the Pakistan backline. While Pakistan had a golden opportunity to get on the scoresheet earlier in the match, Shayak Dost sent a penalty kick over the crossbar after Hayyaan Khattak was fouled in the box. India continued to create chances in the second half, with Adison Singh Thokchom and Kipgen coming close, but they were unable to add to their tally before the late defensive lapse.
The Indian squad is expected to expand to 28 players for their upcoming fixture against the Maldives on November 11, as more players are released by their respective clubs. The top two teams from each group will advance to the semi-finals of the tournament.
