AFC Asian Cup Qualifier: India beat Hong Kong 4-0 to finish as group leader
Sunil Chhetri-led India defeated Hong Kong football team 4-0 as the group leaders of their AFC Asian Cup 2023 qualifiers at the Salt Lake Stadium on Tuesday (June 14). Anwar Ali of the Blue Tigers opened the scoring after three minutes into the match and India was not giving him peace or breathing space across Hong Kong after that.
Palestine had already qualified for the India Asian Cup final after beating the Philippines in a Group B match in Ulaanbaatar.
Four years after the Blue Tigers scored his first international goal in a 1-0 lead with 21-year-old centreback Anwar, his career nearly ended on health grounds.
The 2017 Under-17 World Cup star, whose career was halted after suffering from a rare heart disease (hypertrophic myocardiopathy), scored with a right foot strike from a short corner from Aashiq Kuruniyan into the top corner.
all the time! #BlueTigers beat Hong Kong 4-0 and beat the Group D table by points for yet another win!
IND HKG #INDHKG #ACQ2023 #BackTheBlue #BlueTigers #IndianFootball pic.twitter.com/u661usb3Ul – Indian football team (@IndianFootball) June 14, 2022
Playing alongside Sandesh Jhingan, the versatile defender not only made his presence felt in the backline but also put forth some fluid moves.
Talisman Chhetri doubled the lead just before the break from a 30-yard freekick to bring up his fourth goal of the tournament.
Jackson Singh was swimming in a brilliant freekick as the captain controlled it brilliantly with a clever first touch, before making his 84th international strike a cool one at home, which saw him top the charts. Saw the equal of the all-time leading international scorer with Hungarian great Ferenc Puska. ,
He also entered the list of top five international goalscorers. The Indian icon is just two goals behind Argentine superstar Lionel Messi in the list of active players led by Portuguese Cristiano Ronaldo (117).
Late in the second half, Brandon Fernandes started the move from the right and played a quick 1-2 with Roshan Singh before Manveer got the target.
On the song, India counter attack and a cross from Manveer’s right side is converted by Pandita.
More than eight hours before their face-off, both teams confirmed Asian Cup final berths, courtesy of Palestine’s 4–0 win over the Philippines, after finishing as the worst runners-up from six groups. were over.
Playing without any pressure, Stimac’s team made two bold changes in the starting XI, bringing in Sahal Abdul Samad and Udanta Singh in place of Liston Colaco and Manveer.
with pti input