U-23 Tri-Nation International Friendly Tournament 2026: Points table update after India U-23 beat Bhutan U-23
India leads the points table
India U-23 delivered a statement performance as they dismantled Bhutan with a commanding 5-0 victory, showcasing sheer dominance from start to finish.
India looked in complete control throughout the contest, blending attacking flair with clinical finishing to overwhelm their opponents.
Goals from Suhail, Ricky, Tomba and Ajsal highlighted a ruthless display in the final third, as India repeatedly broke through Bhutan’s defense with ease.
From sharp link-up play to composed finishes, it was a performance that underlined India’s growing strength and depth at the youth level. Bhutan, on the other hand, struggled to cope with the tempo and intensity, as India dictated proceedings and ran riot to secure a resounding win.
With this emphatic result, India U-23 not only strengthened their position in the tournament but also sent a strong message to the rest of the competition.
The margin of victory could prove crucial in shaping the standings as the group stage progresses.
Let’s take a look at the updated points table and top goalscorers.
A brief look at the points table
| Position | Team | Played | Win | Draw | Loss | GD | Points |
| 1 | India U23 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | +5 | 3 |
| 2 | Tajikistan U23 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | +1 | 3 |
| 3 | Bhutan U23 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | -6 | 0 |
The updated points table reflects India U-23’s emphatic start to the campaign, as they sit at the top with a superior goal difference of +5 after their dominant 5-0 victory.
Despite being level on points with Tajikistan, India’s attacking brilliance gives them the early edge in the standings.
The first game was played on 25th March between Tajikistan and Bhutan with the former coming out as 1-0 winners.
Gafurov scored the only goal of the game in the 16th minute to hand his side the win and all three points.
Naushad Moosa’s India U-23 football team faced Bhutan U-23 football team in Yupia last night as the Blue Colts were captained by Chennaiyin FC’s Lalrinliana Hnamte.
The hosts dominated the game and eventually got their opening goal in the closing minutes of the first half through Ricky Meetei.
Bhutan tried to make a comeback but lacked their cutting edge as Suhail Bhat scored a double and goals from Tomba and Ajsal helped India get a comfortable 5-0 win on the night.
The result meant that the Indian U-23 team rose to the top of the standing before they face Tajikistan’s U-23 team on Tuesday.
How can India U-23 win the tournament?
Going into their final game, the Indian U-23 team will win the Tri-Nation Championship if they win or play out a draw against the Tajikistan U-23 team.
The Blue Colts currently have a massive advantage on goal difference though both nations are locked on three points.
The Tajikistan U-23 team can win the competition only if they beat India within the 90 minutes. Extra time and penalties will not be part of the match as this is a series fixture and not a knockout game.
Top goalscorers after India vs Bhutan
Suhail Bhat, the young Mohun Bagan Super Giant forward, is leading the top goalscorer race with two goals in the game against Bhutan. The rest of the players are all on one goal each.
Top goalscorers:
- Suhail Bhat (India U-23) – 2 goals
- Masrur Gafurov (Tajikistan U-23) – 1 goal
- Ricky Meetei (India U-23) – 1 goal
- Tomba Singh (India U-23) – 1 goal
- Muhammad Ajsal (India U-23) – 1 goal
For more updates, follow Khel Now on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Youtube; download the Khel Now Android App or IOS App and join our community on Whatsapp & Telegram.
Aasif, a football fan turned writer, has been writing about the sport since 2020. Based in Chennai, it is no surprise that love for Chennaiyin FC runs in his blood. Apart from Indian football, Aasif has also written and edited articles extensively about European football.