India reach 10th successive SAFF final after seeing off Bhutan

India's secured a record-extending 10th SAFF Championship final as the defending champions overcame Bhutan 2-1 in the first semi-final on Saturday at the National Stadium in Dhaka.

Their only previous failure to reach the final came in 2003, when hosts Bangladesh eliminated them in the semi-finals.

On the day, India took control early. In the eighth minute, Vishnu Puthiya Valappil brought down a long diagonal pass, shifted the ball on to his right foot and finished past goalkeeper Gyeltshen Zangpo. India doubled their advantage in the 28th minute.

After Bhutan failed to clear a corner delivered by Manglenthang Kipgen, captain C Singh Konsham struck.

Two goals ahead at the break, India appeared to have one foot in the final. But Bhutan emerged with renewed purpose and were back in the contest within three minutes of the restart. Chencho Gyeltshen's delivery ended with Kinzang Tashi Tobden heading home in the 48th minute.

The assistant referee had initially flagged for offside, but the referee overturned the decision after a VAR review. VAR also ruled against India when a penalty awarded to them was cancelled following another review.

Bhutan pressed for an equaliser. In the 84th minute, Suhail Ahmad Bhat cut inside from the left and curled a shot from the corner of the penalty area, only to see it crash against the crossbar. Late on, substitute Tenzin was presented with two opportunities but failed to convert either.

Bhutan's response could not undo the damage of their slow start. India, who had beaten Pakistan 3-2 and the Maldives 1-0 in Group B, advanced. 

Bhutan had advanced from Group A despite a 1-0 defeat by Bangladesh and a 2-2 draw with Sri Lanka, progressing on goal difference after Sri Lanka lost 4-0 to Bangladesh.

The result underlined the contrast between India's first-half finishing and Bhutan's dogged fightback, which brought late pressure but fell short of a maiden final appearance for Bhutan.