India was denied a home victory by Bangladesh in their recent AFC Asian Cup qualifier, with the match ending in a draw. Following that, both teams faced off again today (Wednesday), but unfortunately, both suffered defeats. India lost to Hong Kong in a dramatic penalty shootout during added time, while Bangladesh fought hard but fell 2-1 to Singapore.
This latest loss has seen India drop to the bottom of the Group C standings in the Asian Cup qualifiers. Sunil Chhetri’s side now sits fourth with just one point from two matches, the same as Bangladesh, who are third. Leading the group are Singapore and Hong Kong, each with four points.
Throughout the match against Hong Kong, India’s defense was under constant pressure. Defenders Sandesh Jinghan and Anwar Ali struggled with repeated errors. Despite this, neither team conceded during regular time, but the deadlock was broken in extra time.
Hong Kong victory 1-0 Goals
The game, played in Hong Kong, saw Sunil Chhetri come out of international retirement after 58 minutes. However, even his return couldn’t inspire a win. The decisive moment came in the fourth minute of added time when goalkeeper Vishal Kait made a costly mistake, accidentally striking a Hong Kong player’s face. Hong Kong’s Pereira seized the opportunity and calmly scored with a low, powerful shot to the goalkeeper’s right, clinching the victory.
With the goal conceded so late, India had no time to respond. Chhetri, returning to international football, appeared a shadow of his former self. Coach Marquez’s heavy reliance on the veteran seems to be weighing the team down. From the very start, Indian players looked unsettled and lacked direction, while Hong Kong nearly scored within the first three minutes due to confusion in India’s midfield and defense though they missed an easy chance.
Overall, India’s performance highlighted defensive frailties and a lack of cohesion, leaving their qualification hopes in jeopardy.