The Blue Tigers finally managed to secure a 2-1 win over Hong Kong in the 2027 AFC Asian Cup Qualifier in Kochi on Tuesday, the 31st of March.
Despite this win, the Indian team is out of the qualifiers as they finish last in the points table with just 5 points, but the win can act as a confidence booster for the next games.
Attacking Midfielder Ryan Williams, who made his debut for the Indian national team after giving up his Australian citizenship, was the centre of attraction, showcasing his domination in the entire game. The 32-year-old made an unforgettable debut for the Blue Tigers, scoring his first goal for the Indian team, opening the scoring at the 4th minute and giving India a lead.
Team India showcased supremacy in the first half, dominating the possession and creating goal-scoring chances. Although the Blue Tigers could score just one goal in the first half. Defender Akash Mishra managed to register the second goal in the 50th minute by scoring from a difficult position. Hong Kong tried to attack, but the Indian forward line and midfield had chances to make inroads through counterattacks, but couldn’t convert those chances. Everton Camargo scored in the 65th minute for Hong Kong, hoping to make a comeback.
Indian team coach Khalid Jamil stated that although this is the first win for the team in the last seven matches, except for the friendly game against Bhutan and the win over Oman, it is crucial for a team that is just slipping away in the FIFA rankings, as it could act as a morale booster for the team. He further stated that the players have rejoiced in the win, and all players have worked very hard. Jamil further added that the Indian team needs to play more games.
On the other hand, Akash Mishra’s journey has been quite tough in the last one and a half years or so. The left back suffered an Anterior Cruciate Ligament injury and later on managed to make a comeback after a successful surgery. Akash made an impressive comeback for the national side after going through a difficult period. The 24-year-old worked hard to get back to form.
Akash opened up about his goal as well as the team’s performance. He stated that he was satisfied to make a comeback from injury and thanked the team for the way the entire unit supported him, including the senior players. He thanked god for the way he performed, and overall, he thought that it was a complete team effort. Akash stated that the crowd support was also important, helping the team to produce a determined effort. The left back thought that the three points were very crucial.
Khalid Jamil appreciates crowd support at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Kochi
India head coach Khalid Jamil opened up on how the crowd at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium supported the national team against Hong Kong. The Blue Tigers played at the stadium after ten years, and the audience welcomed and supported the team with open arms. The crowd in Kochi was right behind the Indian team, wearing blue jerseys and cheering the team till the final whistle was blown.
Jamil lauded the crowd’s support at the stadium. Jamil also praised the stadium support staff and workers for the facilities that were provided at the stadium. Jamil stated that the players enjoyed playing at the stadium, as the ground conditions were satisfactory for playing. The atmosphere was electrifying, which gave the players the confidence to give their best. He stated that the crowd is always behind the Indian team when the team comes to Kerala.
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Jamil stated that every player played a key role in the team’s success, and the team looked strong in every department. Jamil praised the efforts of Ryan Williams, stating that the left winger played well in his debut game for the Blue Tigers.
He further added that all players, including Akash, Abhishek, Lalengmawia Ralte, Sandesh, Rahul and Gurpreet, played well. He further praised midfielder Jeakson Singh Thounaojam, forward Ashique Kurunian, midfielder Lallianzuala Chhangte, Anwar Ali and forward Liston Colaco.
Inputs from the press conference
