Kolkata, March 31: With a win, India national football team played their final fixture of the AFC Asian Cup qualifiers against Hong Kong national football team. However, the result could not help India qualify, as it was their first win of the campaign and they ultimately failed to secure qualification. Despite that, there were many takeaways from the match. With a 2–1 victory, India defeated Hong Kong on Tuesday evening at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium.
Blue Tigers managed a win after almost two and a half years in a competition. Previously, they had won bronze as an invited participant in the CAFA Nations Cup under Khalid Jamil. This match was Khalid’s first test in charge, as all the earlier qualifiers were played under former coach Manolo Marquez.
The match kicked off with a different approach, as Khalid Jamil started stopper Anwar Ali in midfield. Ryan Williams and Bijoy Varghese also made their debuts tonight. Although Bijoy came on for a few minutes towards the end, Ryan started the match with his grace and gave India an early lead.
In the 4th minute, with a quick attacking move, Udanta sent a through ball down the right flank to Manvir. From the right side of the box, Manvir played a square pass to Ryan, who sent the ball into the net. India displayed a dominant first half with maximum ball possession and strong attacking intent. And continuing it they doubled their lead in the second half.
In the 50th minute, Bheke’s bang throw paid off. When India won a throw-in, Rahul Bheke launched the ball into the box, where Akash Mishra connected with it and sent it into the net, doubling the lead for India.
But in the 65th minute, Camargo reduced the score gap for Hong Kong. Capitalising on a through ball, he placed the ball past an out-of-position Gurpreet. Jhingan tried to intercept with a slide, but Camargo managed to slot the ball into the net from the edge of the box, to made it 2–1.
In the match, it was visible that what India had been lacking concentration is slowly returning. As seen in several previous matches, the Blue Tigers had conceded in the final moments, but tonight, from the start, they showed better reading of the game and maintained their momentum.
The result may not have any impact on qualification, as the team is already out, but it can be impactful for Indian football dreamers. The fans can now look forward to a new era under Khalid, while Ryan Williams’ inclusion also appears promising for the national side. Overall, there is hope for a positive outcome ahead.
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