India vs Pakistan SAFF Championship 2023 LIVE Updates and Score

That's all for Sportskeeda's live coverage of the enticing encounter between India and Pakistan in the SAFF Championship 2023. This is Sayantan signing off and I hope to see on Saturday when the Blue Tigers take on Nepal.

Amidst heightened anticipation leading up to the match, there was only one winner today. India asserted their dominance from the very beginning in front of a packed Sree Kanteerava Stadium, as they capitalized on Pakistan’s errors in the first half.

Sunil Chhetri was the chief architect, scoring twice within the first fifteen minutes. Despite some dramatic moments, including head coach Igor Stimac being sent off just before halftime, India sealed the game in the second half as Chhetri completed his hat-trick from the penalty spot.

They further demoralized Pakistan’s morale as Udanta Singh scored a well-executed goal, widening the gap. With a resounding 4-0 victory, India secured their seventh consecutive win since the turn of the year. The Blue Tigers will now prepare to face Nepal in their upcoming match on Saturday, June 24.

FULL-TIME: India 4-0 Pakistan

90' Six minutes added on but the steam has already blown out of the game.

87' Substitution for India: Sunil Chhetri makes way for Liston Colaco.

81' UDANTE MAKES IT FOUR!

The substitute had a great first touch and raced unnoticed inside the box to finish a fantastic move to the bottom left corner. Anwar's build-up long ball was inch-perfect. IND 4-0 PAK

73' SUNIL CHHETRI STABS HOME HIS HATTRICK GOAL!

Another composed penalty and Hanif has no chance of keeping it out.

73' SECOND PENALTY FOR INDIA!

Sunil Chhetri sets off on an explosive run and he's pushed in the box by Sufyan. The referee points to the spot after having a little think.

67' OFF THE CROSSBAR!

Chhangte from a free kick close to the half-line with a beauty of a delivery and Jeakson Singh is ideal positioned to head it in. But his effort hits the crossbar before being pushed out for a corner by Hanif.

65' Double change for India: Anirudh Thapa and Pritam Kotal makes way for Rohit Kumar and Nikhil Poojary.

59' INJURY SCARE FOR PAK!

After Jinghan challenged him, Dost fell to the ground and was holding his head in anguish. He quickly gets up on his feet after the medical team has checked him out. takes a quick break by moving to the sidelines.

54' SUBSTITUTION FOR PAKISTAN: Ali Khan Niazi and Shayak Dost comes on for Umar Hyatt and Hassan Basir.

48' A GLORIOUS MISS!

Ashique makes a maruading run on the break down the left and drills in a low cross into the box. Hanif gets his hand to the ball but this time fumbles it. Sahal has an open goal in front of him but the Indian found a way to squander it as the ball flies away for a goal kick!

46' THE SECOND HALF IS UNDERWAY!

Pakistan get the ball rolling and we have another 45 minutes of this mega encounter left.

India's Head Coach Igor Stimac is shown a Red Card for interfering play and denying Pakistan a throw-in! ❌🇮🇳

📷FanCode#INDvPaK #BackTheBlue #IndianFootball #SKIndianSports pic.twitter.com/o62bCJkk6X
— Sportskeeda (@Sportskeeda) June 21, 2023

2️⃣ early goals for our 🐐 and an overall dominant performance from the #BlueTigers 🐯 in the first 4️⃣5️⃣ 😍💙🔥#SAFFChampionship2023 🏆 #INDPAK #IndianFootball ⚽️ pic.twitter.com/zynjnhpUQf
— Indian Football Team (@IndianFootball) June 21, 2023

HALF-TIME: India 2-0 Pakistan

Impregnated with some elite poaching from Sunil Chhetri and some drama right at the end, the first 45 minutes of the SAFF Championship clash between the two arch-rivals comes to a close. An error from Pakistan custodian Saqib Hanif lead to the opening goal of the night in the 10th minute of the game itself. Five minutes later, the referee blew the whistle after spotting a handball from a Pakistani defender inside their own box. The Indian talisman converted the spot-kick with great panache and from there on, India was in complete control.

Despite the best efforts from Otis Khan and Hassan Bashir, Pakistan couldn't really string together an appropriate response. Late in the half, Stimac was shown yellow card for intervening with play during a throw-in situation. The Blue Tigers will come out after the break, eager to extend their lead and put this game to bed.

45+4' It needs to be seen how the absence of Stimac on the sidelines will affect India's performance in the second half.

45+2' RED CARD FOR IGOR STIMAC!

Matters were heating up in the middle when the Indian head coach intercepted the ball while Pakistan was trying to take a quick throw-in. A scuffle broke out on the sidelines between players and staff of the two sides. Once the situation cooled down, the referee showed Stimac a direct red while the Pakistan coach saw a yellow.

44' We're just few minutes away from the half-time whistle and India are in the box seat so far. They would be considerably happy to go into the break with a 2-0 lead.

Was there ever any doubt that @chetrisunil11 would step up to the occasion?💙🙌🏽🤩#SAFFChampionship2023 🏆 #INDPAK #IndianFootball ⚽️ #BlueTigers 🐯 pic.twitter.com/E9aECGLuGO
— Indian Football Team (@IndianFootball) June 21, 2023

42' The light drizzle at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium has quickly transformed into heavy downpour. Pakistan players are finding it difficult to control the ball while playing out long balls.

41' OFFSIDE!

Lallianzuala Chhangte gets through on goal and nudges the ball into the net only for the linesman to raise his flag.

38' IND 2-0 PAK

Both teams have lost a little bit of steam now with the half-time break inching closer. Pakistan are more than happy to allow India all the possession as long as it isn't in threatening areas.

36' Otis Khan is constantly tried to create a bit of magic on his own down the right flank but Pritam Kotal has been marshalling him with great resilience.

No way through for the Pakistan No. 7 so far.

Was there ever any doubt that @chetrisunil11 would step up to the occasion?💙🙌🏽🤩#SAFFChampionship2023 🏆 #INDPAK #IndianFootball ⚽️ #BlueTigers 🐯 pic.twitter.com/E9aECGLuGO
— Indian Football Team (@IndianFootball) June 21, 2023

31' CHHETRI'S EFFORT GOES WIDE!

The talismanic forward stands over the resulting freekick but the ball flies slightly wide of the crossbar.

30' FIRST YELLOW CARD OF THE GAME.

Umar Hayat goes into the referee's books for a nudge on the back of Sahal Abdul Samad just outside the Pakistan box.

29' WILD EFFORT FROM PAKISTAN!

The Shaheen finally manage to put the Indian defense under pressure as they reach the edge of the opposition box. However, Muhammad Sufayan's miscued volleyed effort is high and wide of the target.

India India Chants in Bengaluru! Amazing Atmosphere! 🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳

India lead 2-0 versus Pakistan! #INDvPAK #IndianFootball #BackTheBlue #SKIndianSports pic.twitter.com/OmYxPkpHkg
— Sportskeeda (@Sportskeeda) June 21, 2023

26' IND 2-0 PAK

The Blue Tigers are in complete control of the tie so far. They have the lead, they have the possession, and Pakistan are just realing in hopeful long balls at this point.

23' Another freekick for India!

Lallianzuala Chhangte is brought down by Nabi on the right flank. Thapa steps up to take the setpiece and sends in a searching curler, Jeakson heads it but his effort is wide.

GOOOOOOOOAL! Indiaaaaa! 🇮🇳

Anirudh Thapa's shot is handed by Pakistan, and India have a penalty.

Sunil Chhetri makes it 2-0 for India against Pakistan! 💙🔥

📷FanCode#INDvPAK #BackTheBlue #IndianFootball #SKIndianSports pic.twitter.com/zWtT8JOA61
— Sportskeeda (@Sportskeeda) June 21, 2023

20' Otis Khan tries to string together a response for Paksitan as he dribbles past two Indian defenders. However, he ultimately losses possession of the ball.

IND 2-0 PAK

17' This has been a clinical start from India more than anything else. They knew Pakistan wouldn't be at their absolute best given their struggles ahead of the clash and hence the Blue Tigers were poised to pounce whenever the opportunity arrived.

15' GOOOAAAALLL!

Calm and composed from the spot, Sunil Chhetri doubles the Blue Tigers' lead with ease. Saqib Hasan dived the right way but Chhetri's penalty is posted into the bottom right corner without any hinderance.

15' PENALTY FOR INDIA!

The referee spots a handball inside the box among a crowd of Pakistan defenders and he points to the spot.

13' All the good work done by Pakistan in the opening phase has been squandered here.

IND 1-0 PAK

10' GOOOOOAAAALLL!

An early, early breakthrough for India as Saqib Hanif commits a comical blunder. All the keeper had to do was hoove away a stray back pass but he makes a meal of the situation. All Sunil Chhetri had to do was grab the loose ball and tuck it into the open net, which he did with great panache. India lead 1-0 within the first 10 minutes of the game.

8' Respite for Pakistan, respite for Saqib Hanif!

The goal-kick was a timid effort and was intercepted by Sunil Chhetri just outside the opposition box. However, the visitors regroup quickly to block the effort from the Indian skipper. The deflected effort is easily snapped up by Saqib.

6' Quite feet from Sahal Abdul Samad and he is brought down in the middle of the park, another freekick for India. Pakistan negate any threat from the deadball situation.

3' IND 0-0 PAK

Pakistan win an early corner but the resulting header is wide of Amrinder Singh's goal. However, the Shaheens are already showing their attacking potentcy.

KICKOFF. 🤯😤🤩

The #BlueTigers 🐯 are out to defend their #SAFFChampionship2023 title against Pakistan 🇵🇰 at the Kanteerava 🏟️🫶🏻

📱📺 @FanCode & @ddsportschannel #INDPAK #IndianFootball ⚽️ pic.twitter.com/5dL8SW5WW1
— Indian Football Team (@IndianFootball) June 21, 2023

1' Early foul from Pakistan

Abdullah Iqbal brings down Anirudh Thapa just inside the Pakistan half. However, nothing substantial comes from the resulting freekick, taken by Lallianzuala Chhangte.

1' KICK-OFF!

The referee has blown the first whistle and India gets the action underway. Follow along as I, Sayantan, take you through this facination group-stage clash of the SAFF Championship.

ALMOST TIME!

We're nearing the kick-off and the players of both teams are out in the middle. It's time for the national anthems.

Although India are expected to have an overwhelming edge against Pakistan, HERE are three crucial player battles that could determine the outcome of their opening fixture.

Before the kick-off, read through all the major details about both India and Pakistan and their form coming into this SAFF Championship fixture HERE!

Pakistan Starting XI: Saqib Hanif, Easah Suliman, Muhammad Umar Hayat, Muhammad Sufyan, Abdullah Iqbal, Mamoon Moosa Khan, Otis Khan, Rahis Nabi, Hassan Bashir, Harun A Hamid, Ali U Mahmood.

Indian Starting XI: Amrinder Singh, Sunil Chhetri, Subhashish Bose, Anwar Ali, Sandesh Jhingan, Anirudh Thapa, Sahal Abdul Samad, Jeakson Singh, Lallianzuala Chhangte, Pritam Kotal and Ashique Kuruniyan

India vs Pakistan SAFF Championship 2023 LIVE Updates and Score

Arch-rivals India and Pakistan will square-off in the SAFF Championship group-stage match on June 21.