India bury six past Brunei Darussalam, but suffer heart-break in AFC U23 Asian Cup Qualifiers

by Chandler D'silva September 10, 2025

DOHA, QATAR: The India U23 men’s national team were eliminated from the AFC U23 Asian Cup Qualifiers despite defeating Brunei Darussalam 6-0 at the Suheim Bin Hamad Stadium in Doha, Qatar, on Tuesday, September 9, 2025.

The Blue Colts finished with six points from their three matches, and had to wait a nerve-wracking end to the remaining Group H match between Qatar and Bahrain at the Abdullah bin Khalifa Stadium in Doha, which the hosts won 2-1, having come back from a goal down to score two injury-time goals.

Qatar finished top of the group with a perfect record (nine points from three matches), while India ended up second with six points. While the four best second-placed teams (from 11 groups) also qualified, India finished the campaign at number five amongst the group runner-ups.

Midfielder Vibin Mohanan (5’, 7’, 62’) scored a hat-trick, and Mohammed Aimen (87’, 90+7’) netted two, while Ayush Chhetri (41’) got one to his name.

India started with a bang when Muhammed Suhail weaved into the box and cut it back for Vibin, who rode a tackle, before finishing it from close range to give his side the lead in the fifth minute.

The midfielder scored again a couple of minutes later, when his attempted aerial through ball bounced over the Brunei goalkeeper’s head and looped into the net.

The Blue Colts kept plugging in at the Brunei defence, but were either thwarted or missed their chances. Moosa decided to introduce centre forward Parthib Gogoi into the fray in the 32nd minute itself, in order to give his side more of an attacking edge.

Midfielder Vibin Mohanan (5’, 7’, 62’) scored a hat-trick, and Mohammed Aimen (87’, 90+7’) netted two, while Ayush Chhetri (41’) got one to his name.

India started with a bang when Muhammed Suhail weaved into the box and cut it back for Vibin, who rode a tackle, before finishing it from close range to give his side the lead in the fifth minute.

The midfielder scored again a couple of minutes later, when his attempted aerial through ball bounced over the Brunei goalkeeper’s head and looped into the net.

The Blue Colts kept plugging in at the Brunei defence, but were either thwarted or missed their chances. Moosa decided to introduce centre forward Parthib Gogoi into the fray in the 32nd minute itself, in order to give his side more of an attacking edge.

Harijan had a couple of close chances when he made smart runs between the lines. On the first occasion, he had just the goalkeeper to beat, but was tackled by Brunei defender Irfan Abdullah, while on the second, his first-time shot off a Vibin cross went inches wide of an open goal.

Aimen was knocking at the Brunei goalmouth as well, and sent his powerful shot in the 83rd minute crashing into the upright. Harijan thought he had scored a minute later, when he tapped in an Aimen cross, but was flagged offside.

Aimen added two more superb goals to make it six, both long rangers in the dying embers of the game, to make it 6-0 for the Blue Colts.

India U23: Sahil (GK), Bikash Yumnam, Lalrinliana Hnamte, Muhammed Saheef, Vibin Mohanan, Mohammed Sanan (Parthib Gogoi 32′), Harsh Palande, Ayush Chhetri (Macarton Louis Nickson 58′), Muhammed Suhail (Mohammed Aimen 58′), Sreekuttan MS (Sahil Harijan 58′), Ricky Meetei Haobam (Soham Varshneya 76′).

Credits: AIFF Media

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