Ryan Williams and Akash Mishra scored in each half of the match as India defeated Hong Kong 2-1 in the AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027 Qualifiers Final Round Group C at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Kochi. This victory marked India’s first win in Kochi. The Blue Tigers secured their win with early goals from Williams and Mishra, ending their qualifying campaign with five points from a win, two draws, and three losses.
Head Coach Khalid Jamil gave Ryan Williams his debut, and Bijoy Varghese also made his first appearance for India. India started strongly with Williams scoring in the fourth minute, making it the fastest goal by a debutant for India. The team played confidently after taking the lead, dominating possession and controlling the game tempo. The defense was solid, denying Hong Kong any significant chances.
India continued their attacking prowess in the second half, with Akash Mishra scoring to double their lead. However, Hong Kong managed to pull one back through Everton Camargo. Despite some late pressure from Hong Kong, India held on to secure the victory. The match ended with India winning 2-1 in front of a crowd of 22,690 in Kochi.
