Football
AFC Asian Cup 2027 Qualifiers: Wasteful India succumb to Hong Kong - HIGHLIGHTS
A defensive lapse in the death cost India points away against Hong Kong on Tuesday.
India had beaten Hong Kong 9 times previously in 24 meetings, but when it mattered on the night, they failed to deliver the goods. (Photo credit: AIFF)
The Indian men's football team, after an underwhelming performance last week against Thailand, had a chance to redeem themselves when they took on Hong Kong in a Group C fixture of AFC Asian Cup 2027 Round 3 Qualifiers at the Kai Tak Stadium on Tuesday.
India ranked 127th, on paper, were the better side when compared to hosts Hong Kong, who were 153rd on the FIFA rankings.
Both teams came into this fixture with one point apiece. While India were held by Bangladesh, Hong Kong drew Singapore in their respective previous rounds.
With this background, this game on Tuesday proved to be crucial from a qualification standpoint for both sides.
India, on the night, were listless in their approach. They did have chances, but failed to find the back of the net.
And in the death, India handed the game on a platter to Hong Kong by conceding a penalty, which the hosts accepted with gless.
As it happened...
Live Updates
- 10 Jun 2025 11:46 AM GMT
India had beaten Hong Kong back in 2022...
The last time that India played Hong Kong was in 2022, when the two sides met in Kolkata during the Asian Cup qualifier.
India had won that game 4-0.
- 10 Jun 2025 11:44 AM GMT
Hello and welcome to our coverage of this AFC Asian Cup 2027 Qualifier between Hong Kong and India!
This fixture on Tuesday is the 25th meeting since between the two sides with the first one having taken place way back 1951.
