Nonthaburi (Thailand), Jan 14 (UNI) The Indian men’s team were held to a pulsating 4-4 draw by Bangladesh in their opening match of the SAFF Futsal Championship 2026 at the Nonthaburi Stadium here on Wednesday.
K Roluahpuia scored a brace for the Futsal Tigers in the 27th and 36th minutes after Anmol Adhikari (12’) and Lalsawmpuia (20’) scored in the first period. For Bangladesh, Md Moin Ahmed (9’, 31’) and Md Rahbar Wahed Khan (16’, 37’) netted a brace each.
India began on the front foot, pressing high and moving the ball quickly across the court. Early chances fell to Anmol Adhikari and Tijo Job, but Bangladesh survived the initial pressure through disciplined defending and sharp counter-attacks.
The breakthrough came in the ninth minute when Md Moin Ahmed skipped past Seaon Dsouza on the left and finished from a tight angle to put Bangladesh ahead.
India responded swiftly. In the 12th minute, Hafis AM wriggled free under pressure and slipped a precise pass to Adhikari, who kept his composure to fire in the equaliser.
The game remained open and intense, with chances at both ends. Bangladesh regained the lead in the 16th minute after a slick passing move between Moin Ahmed and captain Md Rahbar Wahed Khan, the latter finishing with the Indian goalkeeper out of position.
Just before the interval, India found parity once more. Lalsawmpuia’s effort from a distance in the 20th minute took a heavy deflection off Md Tuhin and wrong-footed the goalkeeper, sending the teams into the break level at 2-2.
The second period began with renewed energy from India, who took the lead for the first time in the match in the 27th minute. Lalrinzuala created the opening with clever footwork before laying the ball off to K Roluahpuia, who made no mistake with his finish.
Bangladesh pushed back strongly and were rewarded in the 30th minute when Moin Ahmed struck again from a narrow angle, the ball slipping under the goalkeeper to complete his brace.
India refused to retreat and struck again in the 36th minute with a well-worked move involving Roluahpuia and Tijo Job. After exchanging passes, Roluahpuia forced his way through tight
marking and finished calmly to restore India’s lead at 4-3.
However, the advantage was short-lived. Adhikari failed to control a loose ball and gifted possession to Rahbar Wahed Khan, who unleashed a powerful right-footed shot in the 37th minute to draw Bangladesh level once more.
The closing moments were frantic. India went close to snatching a winner when Jonathan Lalrawngbawla failed to convert a rebound from close range after a sharp save from the Bangladesh goalkeeper.
The final whistle confirmed a high-quality 4-4 draw, leaving India with both positives and regrets as the tournament got underway.
India’s match squad: 1 Ozen Silva (GK), 7 Nikhil Mali, 5 Seaon Dsouza, 10 Lalsangkima, 13 Jonathan Lalrawngbawla, 2 Aleef Rahman Mollah (GK), 3 Vincent Laltluangzela, 4 Palash
Barber, 6 Lalrinzuala, 8 Lalsawmpuia, 9 Hafis AM, 11 Anmol Adhikari, 12 Tijo Job, 14 K Roluahpuia.
