India survived a second-half scare from Bhutan to book their place in the SAFF Championship final on Saturday.Naushad Moosa’s side were cruising nicely after scoring two goals inside the first half an hour through Vishnu PV and captain Chinglensana Singh Konsham. But Kinzang Tashi Tobden’s goal early in the second half brought Bhutan back into the contest and India were pushed on the back foot. There were some nervy moments, but they eventually sailed through to win 2-1 at the National Stadium in Dhaka.India now face archrivals Pakistan in Tuesday’s final after they put it across favourites Bangladesh 1-0. Abdul Samad Shahzad struck five minutes from time to hand Pakistan a dramatic win and take them to the SAFF final for the first time in their history.In a landmark moment for South Asian football, the video assistant referee or VAR made its debut at the SAFF Championship, operating remotely from Thailand. Both crucial decisions didn’t go India’s way: VAR first helped Bhutan equalise, overturning an offside decision, and then denied a penalty in a second intervention, after the referee had pointed at the spot for handball.Moosa made four changes to the side that defeated Maldives in the last group stage match, restoring Arsh Anwer Shaikh in goal and bringing in Vishnu, Manglenthang Kipgen and Nikhil Prabhu into the starting XI.India made the right moves at the start and soon found themselves ahead. A long ball found Vishnu on the left and the East Bengal winger did well to control it, nutmeg his marker, and then place it past Bhutan goalkeeper Gyeltshen Zangpo.India’s second came in the 28th minute from a corner kick. Bhutan failed to clear Kipgen’s delivery and the loose ball fell in front of Chinglensana, who smashed it home from close range.India had chances to kill the match as a contest but misfired in front of goal.Three minutes into the second half, Bhutan reduced the deficit after India failed to clear a free-kick delivered into the box. Captain Chencho Gyeltshen collected the ball on the left and drove a shot towards the far post, where Tobden headed into an unguarded net.Playing only their second semifinal, the first in 18 years, Bhutan then pushed more men forward and pressed hard for the equaliser, but India had enough quality to negate the attacks and avoid an upset against a side ranked 192 in the world.
