Sanchita Chatterjee, BS News Agency: Hopes of qualifying for the main stage of the AFC Asian Cup had already vanished after failing to win a single match in their previous five outings. Having been knocked out of the race for the 2027 AFC Asian Cup following two draws and three defeats, Tuesday's final group match against Hong Kong at the Nehru Stadium in Kochi was, for the Indian team, merely a formality. By winning that match 2-1, the Indian footballers managed to reclaim at least a measure of their lost pride.
This marked India's first victory in the group stage. The Indian team had last played a competitive match at the Nehru Stadium in Kochi ten years ago; in that 2018 FIFA World Cup Qualifier, India suffered a 1-2 defeat at the hands of Turkmenistan. Since their victory against Kuwait in Kuwait City during the preliminary World Cup qualifiers in November 2023, the Indian team had not won another competitive match. The solitary victory achieved in the interim—against the Maldives—was merely an international friendly.
In the first leg of this fixture, India had suffered a defeat against this very Hong Kong side, conceding a penalty goal during stoppage time. The most notable highlight of this return-leg victory was not merely the debut of Ryan Williams—who had renounced his Australian citizenship to don the Indian jersey—but the fact that India took the lead in the fourth minute through a goal scored by Ryan himself in his very first match. India extended their lead to 2-0 in the 50th minute through a goal by Akash Mishra. However, somewhat against the run of play, Hong Kong's Everton Camargo narrowed the deficit in the 65th minute, capitalizing on a lapse in the Indian defense.
Since taking over as head coach of the Indian team following the departure of Manolo Márquez, Khalid Jamil had failed to deliver any success in AFC Asian Cup matches—until now. He finally tasted victory in his role as head coach. To maintain a balance between attack and defense, Khalid organized his team in a 4-5-1 formation, with Ryan Williams spearheading the attack. With Manvir, Liston, and Chhangte constantly surging up and down the flanks, Hong Kong found themselves under intense pressure right from the start in the face of the Indian team's spirited offensive onslaught. They found the net within just four minutes, courtesy of Ryan Williams. When a through ball delivered by Liston from the right flank reached Manvir, he accelerated into the Hong Kong penalty area. Manvir executed a precise cutback inside the box, finding Ryan Williams, who had made a surging run from the left. With a right-footed placement shot, Ryan steered the ball past the Hong Kong goalkeeper and into the net.
Buoyed by the early goal, the Indian team intensified their pressure. Chhangte had a golden opportunity to score, but he failed to capitalize on it. India secured their second goal in the 50th minute. When a long throw-in from Rahul Bheke landed in the heart of the penalty area, a header from an opposition player amidst the ensuing scramble fell to Akash Mishra; with a measured strike, he sent the ball flying into the Hong Kong goal.
However, against the run of play in the 65th minute, Everton Camargo narrowed the deficit for Hong Kong. Chasing a through ball from deep, he evaded a tackle from Indian stopper Sandesh Jhingan before using a deft right-footed flick to guide the ball past goalkeeper Gurpreet and into the net.
For the remainder of the match, Sandesh and his teammates managed to keep their defense watertight, successfully holding on to their lead. Following the final whistle, the Indian football camp was awash with the joy of victory. There was, however, a special buzz surrounding Ryan Williams, who had marked his debut for the Indian national team with a goal. Ryan shared his thoughts: "I had been waiting for five months for the opportunity to play for the Indian team. To be able to score in that very match makes me even happier. I’m glad I could contribute to the team's victory. However, this isn't just a personal triumph; it is a success born of team cohesion. And there is one more thing I simply must mention: for so long, I played on this very ground in Kochi—facing these football-crazy fans—while representing opposing club teams; but today, I played with their full support behind me. This is a feeling I will never forget."
India: Gurpreet, Bheke, Anwar (Jeakson), Sandesh, Akash (Roshan), Manvir, Chhangte (Vijay), Apuia, Abhishek, Liston, Ryan (Ashique).