India 2-0 Bahrain Highlights, AFC U23 Asian Cup Qualifiers: Suhail, Shivaldo Seal Hard-Fought Win For Blue Colts

Hello and welcome to the start of our live coverage of the India vs Bahrain match in the AFC U23 Asian Cup 2026 Qualifiers. The action in Doha begins at 8:45 PM IST, so stay tuned for pre-match updates and lineups as they are released.

Goalkeepers: Sahil, Mohd Arbaz, Dipesh Chauhan

Defenders: Bikash Yumnam, Pramveer, Muhammed Saheef, Harsh Palande, Subham Bhattacharya, Ricky Meetei Haobam

Midfielders: Soham Naveen Varshneya, Lalrinliana Hnamte, Mohammed Aimen, Vibin Mohanan, Mohammed Sanan K, Chingangbam Shivaldo Singh, Ayush Chhetri, Macarton Nickson, Lalremtluanga Fanai, Vinith Venkatesh

Forwards: Parthib Gogoi, Muhammed Suhail, Sreekuttan MS, Sahil Harijan

India U23 played two closed-door friendly matches against Iraq U23 in Malaysia in August. The Blue Colts lost the matches 2-1 and 3-1.

In July, India U23 faced Tajikistan and the Kyrgyz Republic in two friendly matches, losing the first 3-2 and then drawing the second match 0-0.

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India Head Coach Naushad Moosa:

"I don’t think any team is ‘big’. It’s important to respect every opponent. As far as Bahrain are concerned, we have watched two or three of their matches to prepare.

"We are well prepared – both mentally and physically – and I’m really looking forward to it. We are ready for the opening game against Bahrain.

"Bahrain are a strong side. Watching them, I was very impressed with the way they attack, defend, and the intensity they bring. I have a lot of respect for them. It will be a competitive game, and it definitely won’t be easy for Bahrain."

Bahrain Head Coach Ali Abdulmajed:

"India are a strong team with quality players. We’ve watched their recent matches, and they have good elements. It will be a 50-50 match. If we manage to deal with India’s strengths, we can have the upper hand. But if India succeed in imposing their game, it will be difficult."

India U23: Sahil (gk), Bikash Yumnam (c), Lalrinliana Hnamte, Pramveer, Mohammed Sanan K, Parthib Gogoi, Harish Palande, Macarton Nickson Muhammed Suhail, Lalremtluanga Fanai, Ricky Haobam

Bahrain U23: Abdulla Ali Ahamed (gk), Sayed Mahmood Almoosawi, Hashem Luay Khalaifat, Salman Yunes Amin, Abdulla Alsubaiei, Mubarak Binahmed (c), Isa Abdulla Ali, Hasan Sameer Albaqqali, Saood Mohsin Ebrahim, Mahmood Abdulla

The India vs Bahrain U23 match will not be live-streamed on any Indian platforms. However, you can sign up to the Qatari streaming platform Alkass and watch it on their website on Alkass Four.

You can also follow the match India vs Bahrain live score on Outlook India for free.

The national anthems and the post match formalities are done. Both teams pose for the squad photo and then take their formation on the pitch. The referee blows her whistle, and off we go for tonight's opening fixture.

A good, strong start from both sides. After a bit of pressure from Bahrain early on, India have regained control of the ball in the middle of the park, where most of the early exchanges are being played.

What a couple of chances for Bahrain!! The first was one a complete mess from Sahil. The goalkeeper took too much time to kick the ball away, and Mahmood Abdulla came rushing, getting a foot on the ball, seeing it hit the side netting, just inches from creeping into the near post.

In a matter of seconds, Bahrain again breached the Indian defence, and Alsubaiei found himself in the box, but his shot hit Sahil while two defenders crowded him out. Warning signs for India.

A brilliant high ball into the box almost found Alsubaiei, but Sahil came rushing and punched the ball away. Good instincts from the goalkeeper. India break immediately, and the ball is fed to Suhail on the right. The winger cuts it back across the face of goal, and Gogoi tries to flick it goalwards, but it goes wide of the far post.

Oh god!! Brilliant chances on both sides. India look dangerous when using the flanks, and Suhail's cross earns India the first corner kick. The resulting ball into the box found Gogoi, completely unmarked with the goalkeeper in front of him. However, the striker cannot react in the time, and the goalkeeper collects.

Bahrain break forward with pace, and a brilliant cross from the left flank by Ebrahim found Mahmood Abdulla in the box with an empty net in front of him. However, his touch is not clean and the ball flies wide and over the bar. A big, big miss from the midfielder.

After a bit of treatment for Sannan, India play their second corner short, and a floated ball into the box towards the Indian crowd evaded everyone, and the goalkeeper grabbed on to it. However, the visitors are looking more and more dangerous, despite the big chances falling Bahrain's way.

Bahrain are playing a high-line, and India are trying to exploit that. Sanan is played through, and the forward did well to get around the goalkeeper. However, the flag is up, and the play comes to an end. However, extremely positive play from the Indian youngsters.

What a goal from Suhail!! The winger receives a long ball from midfield on the right flank, and then turns Isa Abdulla inside out with a couple of shoulder drops before shooting and finding the far corner. Ali Ahamed is rooted to his spot and can't do anything about it. India lead!!

Ever since the goal, Bahrain ahave regained posession of the ball, and registered a shot at goal from a free-kick from some distance away. However, Sahil is alert and gets down to grab the ball. India need to be defensively cohesive to not concede before half-time.

It's a Bahraini onslaught on the Indian goal at the moment. Suhail has been one of the best players on the pitch, his early mistake barring, and made a number of strong grabs to keep the scoreline in India's favour.

Meanwhile, Mackarton earned a yellow card for obstructing a Bahraini player.

The fourth official indicates a minimum of four added minutes to be played. The ball is squarely in the Indian half at the moment, with Bahrain trying desperately to get the equaliser.

India hold strong against Bahrain's attack, and go into the break one-goal ahead courtesy of Suhail's excellent solo strike.

Meanwhile, Sanan had a late half-chance to double India's lead, but his volley from close range went high over the bar. Not the easiest of chances, but it can come to haunt India later. A big 45 minutes lies ahead.

Both players are out on the pitch, and India get the second half underway! Stay tuned for live updates.

The game has gotten scruffy a little bit, with both sides committing cruching tackles to break the flow of the game. Ebrahim is brought down by two Indian players, and tries to hype up the Doha crowd.

A quick free-kick from Bahrain found Isa on the left flank, and his cross got a deflection off an Indian defender and almost reached Alsubaiei in the box, but thankfully for India, went behind for a corner.

Bahrain make a double change, bringing on Mohammad Ahmed Alshaikhani and and Khaled Alkhalaf. Off comes Khalaifat and Albaqqali. A very open contest going on, with both sides pushing forward in numbers, but the final ball has been missing from the forwards.

A number of changes for India as well. Shivaldo Singh and Sreekuttan comes on, replacing Macarton and Gogoi. Meanwhile, Suhail had earlier gone off injured, being replaced by Mohammed Aimen.

Another big chance for India that goes begging. A cross from the right flank by Ricky evaded the Bahraini defenders and found Shivaldo in the box, but his diving header goes over the bar. India really need to capitalise on these chances.

Ooooh. A massive, massive respite for India. An accurate cross field ball found Almoosawi in the box, and the midfielder hit it first time past Suhail into the bottom corner. However, almost immediately, the flag goes up, and the goal does not stand.

A big miss from Sanan!! Aimen did well to cut inside - despite a hint of handball - and then squared it across the face of the goal that found the onrushing winger. However, he gets just ahead of the ball, and tries to catch it with his trailing leg, and Alahmed does well to come across and grab onto it.

India are trying to hit Bahrain on the counter, and Sahil Harijan almost got through past the last man after receiving a through ball. However, the centre-back manages to win the battle, and Bahrain survive.

The Indian players are looking tired at the moment, but Aimen almost doubled the lead out of nowhere. Played on the edge of the box by Sreekuttan, the winger has a shot with his left that goes past the defenders and was destined for the top corner, but the goalkeeper pulled off an incredible save.

The fourth official indicates a minimum of five minutes to be played at the end of regulation time. Indian hearts are racing at the moment, with Bahrain desperate for an equaliser.

The Bahraini goalkeeper is keeping his team in the game, pulling off another instinctive save to keep out Sahil Harijan's strike from the right edge of the box. Just one more minute to hold on for India...

That's game, set, and match for India. India are lethal on the counter all night long, and Sreekuttan pulls of a peach of a cross from the left flank, evading the defender and finding the foot of the onrushing Shivaldo Singh, whose touch puts the ball into the back of an empty net.

The referee's full-time whistle will be music to the earns of all Indian fans, as the Blue Colts have secured a hard-fought win over one of the best teams in the group. Ahead of a cruching match against Qatar, Naushad Moosa couldn't have asked for a better start from his team.

India U23's next match is against Qatar on 6 September at 10:30 PM IST. However, the opening-day win puts India on top of Group H. Qatar are currently playing against Brunei, and the table might change after the end of that match.

That's it for the our live coverage. Thank you for joining us throughout this incredible game.