The Indian football team eased into the final of the SAFF U20 Championship 2026 after an emphatic 5-0 win over Bhutan in the semi-finals at the National Football Stadium in Male, Maldives, on Wednesday.
Omang Dodum (4’) and MD Arbash (44’) netted in the first period before Rohen Chaphamayum (56’, 57’) bagged a second-half brace. Malemngamba Singh Thokchom (90+2’) also scored in injury-time.
India needed just four minutes to find the breakthrough after Rohen Chaphamayum latched onto a long ball down the right and delivered a precise cutback, which Omang Dodum calmly slid into the net to secure an early 1-0 lead.
Vishal Yadav came close to doubling the advantage just four minutes later. However, his deft flick was deflected behind for a corner that ultimately came to nothing.
Omang Dodum was at the heart of the action again in the 27th minute, bursting forward with pace before unleashing a shot that was saved by the goalkeeper.
Bhutan nearly found the equaliser 10 minutes later but a long-range lob struck the crossbar.
They were made to pay for their miss a minute before half-time as Omang Dodum turned provider with a perfectly weighted pass for MD Arbash, who slotted into an empty net to send the Blue Colts into the break with a 2-0 lead.
India scored their third of the night 11 minutes into the second half, courtesy of an MD Arbash cutback that Rohen Chaphamayum smashed into the net.
The Blue Colts made it 4-0 a minute later after MD Arbash played another through ball for Rohen Chaphamayum to find the bottom corner for his second goal of the night.
Malemngamba Singh Thokchom netted India’s final goal of the night in injury time to cap off a dominant display.
India will take on Bangladesh in the SAFF U20 Championship final on Friday. The two sides met earlier in the group stage, with the match ending in a 1-1 draw.
Organised by the South Asian Football Federation, the SAFF U20 Championship is an annual football tournament. Defending champions India are the most successful nation in tournament history with four titles.
READ MORE: https://www.olympics.com/en/news/saff-u20-championship-2026-football-india-vs-bhutan-semi-finals-match-report
