India ended their AFC Asian Cup 2027 Qualifiers campaign on a positive note with a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Hong Kong at the Jawaharlal Nehru International Stadium in Kochi on Tuesday. The night belonged to debutant Ryan Williams, who announced his arrival on the international stage with a goal just four minutes into the game. Defender Akash Mishra doubled the lead for the Blue Tigers in the second half to secure the win.

The hosts got off to a flyer when Manvir Singh’s low cross from the right flank found an unmarked Ryan Williams, who calmly slotted the ball home to give India a 1-0 lead. The Perth-born striker, representing India for the first time, celebrated passionately with the home crowd. India maintained their dominance and struck again in the 50th minute. A powerful strike from Akash Mishra from an acute angle caught the Hong Kong goalkeeper off guard, making it 2-0 for India.

Hong Kong pulled one back in the 65th minute through Everton Camargo, leading to a tense final phase. Despite persistent pressure from the visitors in the dying minutes, India’s defense, led by veteran goalkeeper Gurpreet Singh Sandhu, held firm to preserve the lead. While India had already missed the chance to qualify for the main tournament, this victory provides a much-needed morale boost for Igor Stimac’s side as they head into the new financial year starting April 1.