India beat Bhutan 2-1 in the first semi-final of the SAFF Championship at the National Stadium in Dhaka on Saturday, reaching the final for the 14th time.

India will face the winner of the second semi-final between hosts Bangladesh and Pakistan, which kicks off at 8pm on the same ground.

The result repeated the 2008 SAFF semi-final in Male, where India also beat Bhutan 2-1.

India took the lead in the ninth minute through Vishnu, and defender Chinglensana Singh doubled it in the 28th minute.

Bhutan had only one shot at goal from three attacks in the first half. India had four shots, three of them on target, and dominated both possession and attack before the break.

Bhutan pulled a goal back two minutes into the second half. Chencho's shot came back off the post, and Kinzang Tashi headed the rebound in.

Referee Munir Alkatiri first ruled the goal offside, but he reviewed the decision with the video assistant referee (VAR) after Bhutan's players protested, and the goal was given.

VAR is being used for the first time in SAFF Championship history, in the two semi-finals and the final.

The referee awarded India a penalty against Bhutan in the 66th minute, but cancelled the decision after a VAR review.

Bhutan pushed for an equaliser and created several good chances in the last half hour, but India held on.

India came to the tournament with a second-string squad but have kept up their record in the competition.

They have reached the final in 14 of their 15 SAFF appearances, winning the title nine times and finishing runners-up four times. Their only miss was in 2003, when they finished third.

India also won the 2009 edition in Bangladesh with their Olympic team.