India 4 (Vincent Laltluangzela 6’, Lalsawmpuia 25’, 40’, Nikhil Mali 32’)
defeated
Pakistan 1 (Ali Agha 19’)

Piyush Khanore
AIFF Media Team

BANGKOK, THAILAND: It was a 77th Republic Day to remember for the Indian men's futsal team, who capped off a fine performance against rivals Pakistan with a 4-1 victory to seal the silver medal at the SAFF Futsal Championship 2026 at the Hua Mak Indoor Stadium in Bangkok, on Monday, January 26, 2026.

The Futsal Tigers, who are 133rd in the FIFA Men’s Futsal Rankings, finished the championship with 11 points from six matches, seven behind Maldives (ranked 109th). Nepal, ranked 114th, also finished with 11 points, but only managed bronze due to an inferior goal difference.

Lalsawmpuia (25’, 40’) scored a brace, while Vincent Laltluangzela (6’) and Nikhil Mali (32’) netted a goal each for India. Ali Agha (19’) was the only scorer for Pakistan. Both sides were tied at 1-1 at half-time.

It was a match the result of which had bearing on three teams – India, Pakistan, and Nepal – all of whom had a chance to clinch the silver medal. A win for either India or Pakistan would give the respective rivals the second spot. However, a draw would mean that Nepal would clinch silver.

India began on the front foot, looking to use their ala and send low centres into the Pakistan circle. And soon enough, they had the goal that would ease their nerves – at least for a while.

Laltluangzela controlled a stray ball in the opposition half, teed himself up and blasted it into the net to put the Futsal Tigers in the lead.

The goal immediately altered the momentum of the game as Pakistan went in search of the equaliser. India, however, used these opportunities to hit their rivals on the break.

Muhammad Ellham, in the 12th minute, had his effort blocked in the India circle, as K Roluahpuia immediately gathered the rebound and launched the counter-attack. Entering the opposition half, he weaved past his marker and pulled the trigger, but it was tipped over.

Pakistan, however, fought hard and managed to draw level with a little over a minute left on the clock for half-time. Zaid Ullah Khan played a clever through ball to set Ali Agha through on the left. The latter skipped up the flank and laced one from a tight angle, as the ball hit the far post before going in.

The break came at the right time for India, who regrouped and came out with new intent. In the very first minute of the second half, India were awarded a free-kick in a dangerous position. Lalsangkima faked a shot from the dead-ball position and passed it to Mali at the edge of the box, who pulled the trigger, only to see his effort go inches wide.

Five minutes into the restart, India took the lead again. Lalsawmpuia gave chase to an overhead ball and managed to side-step his marker before pulling the trigger. His shot hit Asif Ahmad Chaudhry on the chest before going in.

India goalkeeper Aleef Rahman Mollah pulled off back-to-back saves to keep his side in the lead in the 31st minute. Pakistan’s Hamza Nusrat intercepted a pass from Anmol Adhikari in a dangerous area, as Hafis AM had to commit a tactical foul, pulling Nusrat’s shirt, to keep Pakistan out. Nusrat’s effort from the free-kick was on target, but Mollah was at hand to block it at the edge of the India circle. The rebound fell to Nusrat, who tried again, but Mollah stood like a wall, parrying it a second time. Miraculously, the ball fell at Nusrat’s feet a third time, as the Pakistan captain now tried to dink it over Mollah, only to be denied by the crossbar.

Pakistan would go on to rue that chance, however, as just seconds later, India doubled their lead. Roluahpuia jinked past his marker on the right and shot at goal, but it was saved. The rebound fell to an onrushing Mali, who volleyed it in.

Two goals down and just five minutes left on the stop-clock, Pakistan went for the powerplay, introducing their goalscorer Ali Agha as their flying goalkeeper. The tactic almost paid off in the 39th minute, as Agha, during a transition, came in as a substitute in place of regular goalkeeper Muhammad Tahir, and was immediately played through on the right by Chaudhry. Agha proceeded to play a give-and-go with Salar, before shooting, but it was saved by Mollah.

The Futsal Tigers put the match beyond all doubts in the last minute, when they caught Pakistan with an unmanned goal on the counter. Lalsawmpuia, who had stolen the ball from Nisar Hussain, skipped a couple of steps over the centre-line before calmly passing it into the gaping goal to seal the match and the silver medal for India.

India’s match squad: 1 Ozen Silva (GK), 2 Aleef Rahman Mollah (GK), 3 Vincent Laltluangzela, 4 Palash Barber, 5 Seaon Dsouza, 6 Lalrinzuala H, 7 Nikhil Mali (C), 8 Lalsawmpuia, 9 Hafis AM, 10 Lalsangkima, 11 Anmol Adhikari, 12 Tijo Job, 14 K Roluahpuia.