Republic Day Roar: India Demolish Pakistan 4-1 To Snatch 2026 SAFF Futsal Silver

Last Updated:January 26, 2026, 19:21 IST

India defeated Pakistan 4-1 to clinch silver at the SAFF Futsal Championship 2026 in Bangkok.

(Credit: AIFF Media)

The Indian men’s futsal team gave the nation a Republic Day celebration to savour, powering past arch-rivals Pakistan 4-1 to clinch the silver medal at the SAFF Futsal Championship 2026 in Bangkok on Monday.

The win sealed second place for India with 11 points from six matches, edging out Nepal on goal difference, while Maldives finished clear at the top.

After a tense first half ended 1-1, India flipped the script with a ruthless second-half surge that Pakistan never recovered from.

Vincent Laltluangzela set the tone early, blasting India ahead in the sixth minute after pouncing on a loose ball. Pakistan responded through Ali Agha’s clever finish just before the break, leaving all three teams — India, Pakistan and Nepal — very much in the silver-medal hunt.

India, though, emerged from halftime sharper, braver and more clinical.

Minutes into the second half, goalkeeper Aleef Rahman Mollah produced a stunning triple-save sequence, denying Pakistan time and again in what proved to be the turning point of the match.

Pakistan paid dearly.

Seconds after surviving that onslaught, India struck again. K Roluahpuia’s drive was parried, but Nikhil Mali reacted fastest, smashing home the rebound to make it 3-1.

Desperate, Pakistan rolled the dice with a powerplay, sending Ali Agha on as a flying goalkeeper. The gamble nearly worked, but India survived.

Then came the dagger.

With Pakistan’s goal unmanned in the dying minute, Lalsawmpuia stole possession, crossed halfway, and calmly rolled the ball into an empty net to seal both the match and the medal — his second goal of the night, and India’s biggest moment of the tournament.

News sports football Republic Day Roar: India Demolish Pakistan 4-1 To Snatch 2026 SAFF Futsal Silver

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