India Vs Brunei Highlights, AFC U23 Asian Cup Qualifiers: IND 6-0 BRU; Blue Colts Suffer Heartbreak After Wasteful Show

Head coach Naushad Moosa emphasised the importance of staying sharp against Brunei, who have conceded heavily in their first two matches. “Such games are very challenging. When you know Qatar scored 13 goals, and then Bahrain scored 10, I just want my boys not to relax,” he said.

“We must have a good goal difference, so we need to be focused. This is what we need right now. Ninety minutes, you just think about the game, and just keep scoring.”

Fans in India can watch the India vs Brunei, AFC U23 Asian Cup 2026 Qualifiers match live online on the Alkass One channel via their official website and the Shoof mobile app.

India gave their all in their previous Group H match but went down 1-2 to Qatar in Doha.

Muhammed Suhail had put India ahead with a brilliant header, matching Qatar move for move. However, a controversial second yellow card for Pramveer and a penalty handed to Qatar turned the tide.

Despite the setback, India remains in contention for qualification in the tournament.

Australia are the first team to book their AFC U23 Asian Cup 2026 Finals spot topping Group D.

There is no previous head-to-head record between India and Brunei at the U-23 level. This will be their first meeting in the competition.

Here is how the Bikash Yumnam-led India line up for their all-important last qualifying clash in Doha:

India have three points from two Group H games and are in contention for a historic U23 Asian Cup qualification. If the Blue Colts defeat Brunei Darussalam and Bahrain beat Qatar later tonight (by not more than two goals), India will finish in first place and seal their berth (thanks to a better head-to-head goal difference in the matches involving the top three teams).

But if Qatar manage a draw (or better) against Bahrain, India cannot finish first and will need to depend on favours from other groups to be among the top four of all the second-placed teams.

It's time! Play gets underway in Doha. India kicking from left to right and Brunei from right to left in the first half. The Blue Colts need a flurry of goals and a bright start is imperative for that.

They needed an early goal, and they have one! Vibin Mohanan slots it in with ease in the fifth minute, responding to Muhammed Suhail's cutback, to get the Blue Colts going.

Here's his second! Vibin Mohanan tries luck from distance, it's not even a shot per se but an attempted ball into the Brunei box, but the goalie makes a mess of it, misjudging the bounce. The ball trickles into the net and India have a lucky second goal in the eighth minute.

It is absolute one-way traffic at this point, with India hogging the Brunei half and hovering around their box for more openings. Goalkeeper Khairul Hisyam is having a hard time, facing up to the incessant onslaught.

India have missed at least three big chances to add to their first-half goal tally. The latest one is from skipper Bikash Yumnam, whose low shot whistles past the far corner in the 20th minute.

Regardless of what happens in this match, India's qualification picture will only become clearer after the conclusion of the last Group H clash between Qatar and Bahrain. That game kicks off at 10:30pm IST, so we have a long, anxious night ahead of us.

The first drinks break is called after 30 minutes of play. Humid conditions in Doha necessitate the interval, and it gives India coach Naushad Moosa the opportunity to instruct his wards better as they have squandered a number of chances to score.

India are still being profligate in the final third, as Lalrinliana Hnamte misses the target from close range in the 33rd minute. Meanwhile, a bit of a scuffle breaks out in the midfield and substitute Parthib Sundar is booked as a result.

Goal number three! This could settle down the nerves a bit. Ayush Chhetri engages in a delightful one-two with Sreekuttan Manikuttan before drilling the ball with precision into the Brunei net in the 41st minute.

Four minutes added as injury time to the first half. The Blue Colts looking to sneak in one more goal in the interim.

A fourth goal doesn't arrive before half-time, as the whistle is blown right at the four-minute mark of added time. India missed a host of chances in the 45-minute period, but have dominated play and would look to capitalize in the second half.

The players return from the lemon break and the second half gets underway. India now attacking from right to left and Brunei from left to right. But the Blue Colts miss another big chance early, as Sreekuttan's left-footed shot from the edge of the box flies way over the bar in the 46th minute.

India continue to crowd the Brunei box in the quest for more goals. No success yet in the second half, however as Brunei goalkeeper Hisyam has done well to deny them.

The elusive fourth goal arrives in the 62nd minute, and it's via an inch-perfect free-kick from Vibin Mohanan. The setpiece pierces the Brunei wall and nestles into the bottom corner to hand Mohanan a well-deserved hat-trick.

The second and final drinks break of the match is done and dusted. India have 13-odd minutes to try and score as many goals as possible. They would not be happy with the 4-0 scoreline but must forget the missed chances and focus on converting fresh ones.

Another chances goes abegging. Substitute Sahil Harijan meets the cross from Vibin Mohanan at the goal mouth, but completely mistimes his tap-in and the ball goes wide in the 78th minute. The Blue Colts might rue all these missed opportunities later.

Brunei goalie Hisyam continues to thwart India as he dives to his right to keep out Parthib Sundar’s low shot in the 83rd minute. Moments later, the Blue Colts find the back of the net but Sahil Harijan is ruled to be offside.

India finally break the streak of missed chances. It takes a piece of individual brilliance from Mohammed Aimen in the 87th minute to hand the Blue Colts their much-awaited fifth goal. It's a long ranger from 20 yards out that sizzles into the top corner, and this time Hisyam is beaten all ends up.

We are into seven minutes of added time and India's attempts continue unfettered. Remember that Bahrain, who the Blue Colts pipped 2-0, had defeated the same Brunei 10-0 earlier, and India ought to have scored far more goals by now.

Another stunner from Mohammed Aimen! The young India attacker employs his right foot to strike the ball cleanly from distance and beat Hisyam again to net his second, and India's sixth goal deep in stoppage time.

The full-time whistle is blown soon after Aimen's second goal. India hit Brunei for six, but as we have mentioned several times tonight, it could have been a lot more. India now await the result of the Qatar vs Bahrain encounter, which has gotten underway at the Abdullah bin Khalifa Stadium, to learn their fate.

Qatar and Bahrain are currently locked 0-0 in the last Group H match. India's best chance to qualify is still by finishing on top of the group, for which Bahrain need to defeat Qatar by two or fewer goals.

Any other result would mean India need to end up among top four of the 11 second-placed teams across all groups.

The Qatar vs Bahrain clash stands at 0-0 at half-time. The coming 45 minutes of play will shape not only the two teams, but also India's destiny, as far as qualification for the AFC U23 Asian Cup is concerned.