Dallalmuon Gangte emerged as the hero for India with a remarkable hat-trick, leading them to a 3-1 victory over Chinese Taipei in the AFC U17 Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2026 Qualifiers. The match, held at the EKA Arena in Ahmedabad on November 26, 2025, saw India bounce back after an earlier draw against Palestine, keeping their qualification hopes alive.
India's journey in the qualifiers began with a 1-1 draw against Palestine, making the win against Chinese Taipei crucial for their campaign. The victory propelled India to second place in Group D, tied on points with leaders IR Iran, who also drew 1-1 with Lebanon earlier that day, but India trails on goal difference. For Chinese Taipei, this loss confirmed their elimination from the qualifiers.
Gangte's Performance and Match Dynamics
The match commenced unfavorably for India, as Chinese Taipei seized the lead in the fourth minute. Ou Yang-qi expertly found Yang Hao-wei unmarked, who then scored past India's goalkeeper Rajrup Sarkar. However, India's resilience shone through as they gradually regained control and equalised in the 32nd minute. Gunleiba Wangkheirakpam's cross was deftly finished by Gangte, bringing the score to 1-1.
In the second half, India dominated the proceedings. Gangte scored his second goal in the 77th minute, capitalising on a defensive error and firing a precise shot into the net. Just two minutes later, he completed his hat-trick with a powerful left-footed strike from outside the box, sealing the victory for India and delighting the home crowd.
Group Standings and Upcoming Matches
With this win, India now has four points from two matches, while Chinese Taipei remains at the bottom with only one point from three games. Lebanon, with three points, and Palestine, with two, complete the group standings. India's next challenge is against Lebanon on November 28, a match that could prove pivotal for their qualification prospects.
Meanwhile, IR Iran's match against Lebanon ended in a 1-1 draw. Jafar Asadi's early goal for Iran was nullified by Eyad Eid's equaliser for Lebanon in the 65th minute. Lebanon has now drawn all three of their matches and must win against India to keep their qualification hopes alive.
The upcoming fixtures on November 26 include Palestine facing IR Iran, followed by India's clash with Lebanon. Both matches will be streamed live on plus.fifa.com, offering fans free access to watch the action unfold.
The competition continues to heat up in Group D, with each match playing a crucial role in determining which teams will advance. India's recent victory has boosted their chances, and they will aim to maintain this momentum in their upcoming matches.
