Debutant Ryan Williams is cock-a-hoop after giving India an early lead over Hong Kong China in Kochi on Tuesday.
| Photo Credit: THULASI KAKKAT
It all looked a bit unreal.
Four minutes into the match, two perfect passes met a perfect finish. A naturalised citizen from Australia, playing his first game for India, scored. An excellent crowd erupted in joy.
It was the brightest moment yet in a season of gloom for Indian football. A season that didn’t even seem to take off with all the uncertainty regarding the Indian Super League.
But that goal from Ryan Williams brought joy. And there was finally a win for India in the AFC Asian Cup qualifiers, as it beat Hong Kong China 2-1 at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium on Tuesday night.
Coach Khalid Jamil must indeed be a relieved man after India finished its campaign in Group C on such a fine, promising note.
Williams showed how the decision to use eligible foreign-grown talents could help Indian football. The 32-year-old from Perth had to give up his Australian passport to play for India.
He didn’t take long to make his mark in the blue jersey.
And he did that in style, too. It all began with a superb through ball from own half by Abhishek Singh Tekcham, who had Manvir Singh cutting into the box. Williams smartly put the ball past the Hong Kong goalkeeper Pong Cheuk Hei.
India continued to play with pace and purpose. Five minutes after the interval, Akash Mishra doubled the joy for the noisy crowd, finding the target from a difficult angle off a powerful throw-in into the box by Rahul Bheke.
Hong Kong reduced the margin through Everton Camargo, who was able to dupe the usually tight Indian defence.
But, the home side, cheered on by some 22,000 supporters, ensured this was a night to remember.
The result: India 2 (Ryan Williams 4, Akash Mishra 50) bt Hong Kong China 1 (Everton Camargo 65).
Published – March 31, 2026 09:36 pm IST
