Dhaka: India survived a second-half fightback from Bhutan to register a 2-1 victory in their semifinal on Saturday and enter the SAFF Championship final, keeping their bid for a record-extending 10th title alive.
Vishnu PV (9th minute) and captain Chinglensana Singh Konsham (28th) scored before the break, but Kinzang Tashi Tobden (48th) pulled one back early in the second half to bring Bhutan back into the contest.
The Video Assistant Referee (VAR), introduced for the first time in the competition, played a significant role, overturning an offside decision against Bhutan's goal before cancelling a penalty awarded to India.
Defending champions India will face Pakistan in the final on November 17. Pakistan defeated hosts Bangladesh 1-0 in the other semifinal on Saturday.
Bhutan, appearing in their first SAFF Championship semifinal in 18 years, worked hard in midfield to disrupt India's passing in the opening exchanges. The Blue Tigers took some time to find their rhythm but moved ahead in the ninth minute following a well-executed attack.
A long diagonal pass found Vishnu on the left. The East Bengal forward controlled the ball with an excellent first touch, shifted it onto his right foot and nutmegged a defender before placing his shot past goalkeeper Gyeltshen Zangpo into the bottom-right corner.
The goal settled India, who threatened again in the 17th minute. Brison Fernandes spotted Suhail Ahmad Bhat's run into the left side of the box and released the Mohun Bagan forward, whose first-time effort was kept out by Zangpo.
Bhutan captain Chencho Gyeltshen offered a glimpse of his threat two minutes later, using quick footwork to beat two Indian players near the edge of the penalty area before being crowded out.
India continued to create chances. Ricky Shabong won possession and surged into the Bhutan box in the 21st minute before cutting the ball back for Bhat, whose left-footed shot was blocked by Tenzin Norbu.
Two minutes later, Abhishek Suryavanshi's cross from the left found Fernandes in space, but his volley went narrowly wide of the left post.
India doubled their lead in the 28th minute. Kipgen delivered a corner from the right, and after Bhutan failed to clear the ball, Chinglensana reacted to the loose delivery in front of goal and smashed it into the net.
By the half-hour mark, India had registered six shots, while Bhutan had yet to attempt one. The defending champions took their two-goal advantage into the break, with Bhutan's occasional promising moves failing to produce a clear scoring opportunity.
The contest changed after the interval as Bhutan returned with greater urgency and a more direct approach. They reduced the deficit in the 48th minute after India failed to clear a free-kick delivered into the box.
Gyeltshen collected the ball on the left and drove a shot into the ground towards the far post, where Tobden headed it into an unguarded net. An offside flag initially halted the celebrations, but a VAR review allowed the goal to stand.
Bhutan almost drew level in the 53rd minute. Shabong's attempted clearance from a left-wing cross fell to Gyeltshen, whose shot threatened to dip beneath the crossbar. Arsh reacted quickly to tip it over.
India coach Moosa introduced Macarton Nickson for Kipgen and Irfan Yadwad for Vishnu in the 64th minute.
Yadwad soon appeared to have earned India an opportunity to restore their two-goal cushion when his cross from the left struck Nima Wangdi's arm inside the box. The referee awarded a penalty, but the decision was overturned following a VAR review.
Bhat came close to settling the contest in the 85th minute. He carried the ball into the area, deceived a defender with a feint on his left foot and shot with his right, but the effort struck the crossbar.
Bhutan continued to search for an equaliser. Gyeltshen floated a delivery towards substitute Kinzang Tenzin, but the ball was just beyond his reach. Norbu then sent a volley well off target from the edge of the box in the fourth minute of added time.
There was one final opportunity when Tandin Tshewang headed a cross from the left back across goal. Kinzang Tenzin came inches away from making contact, and Bhutan's chance to force extra time slipped away as India held on to secure their place in the final.