India’s downward spiral on Asian football’s ladder continued after Hong Kong, ranked 153rd in the world, won a late penalty and earned a win to boost their chances of making the 2027 AFC Asian Cup. The penalty was given away by goalkeeper Vishal Kaith, allowing Stefan Pereira to score the winner from the spot in the 91st minute.
The loss puts India’s Asian Cup qualification hopes in a precarious position after Singapore won their tie against Bangladesh 2-1 and are now joint leaders with Hong Kong (4), with four games remaining for all the teams. Both Bangladesh and India are joint bottom of Group C with a point apiece.
That India lost on the road isn’t a surprise.
The Indian team, with a three week long national camp under their belt, were capable of getting a win against Hong Kong, a team they had beaten two years ago in 4-0.
Coach Manolo Marquez started the game off in a brave manner, choosing not to select veteran striker Sunil Chhetri — who he had requested to come out of international retirement — in his playing XI. He instead went with Ashique Kuruniyan, a left-footed winger, who played as a striker for the very first time, for the national team, on Tuesday. India also had Edmund Lalrindika on the bench, a former Inter Kashi player who was the other established forward on the bench.
The gamble did not pay off.
In a game where chances were few and lacking in quality, Kuruniyan was handed the simplest of tap-ins in the 34th minute. A ball well won back by Brandon Fernandes in the midfield found its way to Liston Colaco on the left wing. The Mohun Bagan player released the ball into the Hong Kong box to Kuruniyan, with none but the keeper to beat. But the attacker chose to connect the ball with his trusted left-foot and frustratingly skied his attempt well outside of bounds.
Part of India’s sustained powerlessness to create chances in games has come from their inability to hold onto the ball, regardless of the opponent. Five minutes into the second half, Kuruniyan had another chance. But yet another left-footed attempt with no one but the goalkeeper to beat, went flying wide.
Marquez brought on Sunil Chhetri in the 58th minute hoping for a prayer. Apart from a few stray stabs which were immediately blocked, Chhetri had a chance to put India in the lead as well, when Lallianzuala Chhangte passed the ball into the Hong Kong near-post. But his guided tap was blocked near the goal line.
As both teams pushed looking for a winner, Indian goalkeeper Vishal Kaith committed a howler. Kaith attempted to punch a ball, on the edge of his box, while being surrounded by three Indian players and Hong Kong’s Michael Udebuluzor. The Indian keeper, who struggled mightily against Thailand, ended up missing the ball and punching the Hong Kong substitute instead. Kaith was then sat down by Stefan Pereira who scored from the spot and launched into wild celebrations.
India on the other hand now have a solitary point from two games, and with four more games remaining, are unlikely to make it to the 2027 AFC Asian Cup on present form. They next face a two-legged home and away Group C tie against Singapore on October 9 and 14.
