India vs Hong Kong, AFC Asian Cup Qualifiers 2027, Highlights: Hong Kong Defeat India 1-0

Following their 2-0 defeat against Thailand, India stooped to a new low with a 1-0 loss against Hong Kong and it has further complicated their qualification for the AFC Asian Cup.

Hong Kong have defeated India 1-0 with Stefan Pereira scoring the only goal of the match.

Stefan Pereira does not make a mistake and slots the ball past Vishal Kaith.

The referee points to the spot. Kaith comes out and punches Michael in his chest while trying to clear a ball.

Rahul Bheke replaces Lallianzuala Chhangte

Hong Kong have a free kick on the right wing. The ball is delivered into the box but Vishal Kaith parries it away.

Indian players are getting into the attacking third with ease but poor finishing has barred them from finding the goal.

Chhangte gets into the box and passes the ball to Chhetri. The Bengaluru FC forward tries to strike the ball, but it's blocked by a Hong Kong defender.

Sunil Chhetri passes it to Liston Colaco who has an acre of space ahead of ahead but decides to shoot which goes far away from the target.

Liston Colaco is fouled and India have a freekick. The Mohun Bagan winger decides to take it himself but his effort sails over the bar.

Hong Kong have mostly relied on their wings and are having a lion share of possession in the second half.

Lallinzuala Chhangte cuts inside and goes for the shot. The Hong Kong custodian dives to his right and makes the save.

Suresh Wangjam loses the ball and Juninho latches on it and launches a shot. Vishal Kaith comes to India's rescue with a fingertip save.

East Bengal winger Naorem Mahesh replaces Brandon Fernandes.

Ashique Kuruniyan is injured and he has been replaced by Sunil Chhetri.

Ashique receives the ball on the edge of the box and launches a shot. But it sails wide.

Liston Colaco receives a yellow card for a challenge.

Can India break the deadlock in the second half? Stay tuned here for live updates.

India vs Hong Kong Live Updates: A look at how India have fared so far. Generally ahead in all metrics - but yet to score. Screengrab courtesy - Fancode

India vs Hong Kong Live Updates: There were a few half-chances that fell India's way but the most notable one was the Ashique miss, which was essentially an open goal. But India must do better and ensure they get a goal in the second half.

India vs Hong Kong Live Updates: … aaaaand it is goalless at half-time. India have had the better chances but Hong Kong ended the half stronger and the result is a game with no goals thus far.

India vs Hong Kong Live Updates: It is a testament to how few the stoppages have been that there is only one minute of time added on. 

India vs Hong Kong Live Updates: And now the home team are finding some form and even almost manage to score! India are now the side defending deep.

India vs Hong Kong Live Updates: Defender Anwar Ali manages another shot on target for the Indian football team but it is a looping long-distance effort from a free-kick but Ashique's effort is even more galling - he has an open goal and somehow shoots wide! Oh dear oh dear…

India vs Hong Kong Live Updates: The home team's fans suddenly burst into waves of cheers, which is generous given the performance thus far but it is nice to see the home fans in such a voice.

India vs Hong Kong Live Updates: The good news is that, with about a third of the game gone, India have looked the better side. The bad news is they have not converted that superiority into a goal.

India vs Hong Kong Live Updates: The home team Hong Kong find themselves pegged back and reduced to the occasional counter-attacks. Not what many expected in this match.

India vs Hong Kong Live Updates: The Blue Tigers continue to look like the team who will score first. Another corner won leads to a dangerous cross being made after a set-piece routine but the cross evades everyone.

India vs Hong Kong Live Updates: India win a free-kick in a dangerous position and the resulting ball into the area reaches Sandesh Jhingan but his shot is straight at the goalkeeper. The linesman had flagged for offside anyway but that was India's best chance so far.

India vs Hong Kong Live Updates: Some good play by the Indians now as they manage to win a couple of corners in quick succession. India are beginning to play more positively.

India vs Hong Kong Live Updates: The game has gotten better now as both teams are looking to pass the ball well, but both are lacking that incisive final killer pass. 

India vs Hong Kong Live Updates: Both teams have made a shaky start to the match so far. One team will need to take the initiative and calm things down here.

India vs Hong Kong Live Updates: The players are heading out and the match is about to get underway. This should be a good one, folks!

India vs Hong Kong Live Updates: After this match, India will need to play Thailand and then have return legs against Bangladesh and Hong Kong. Pretty much every game is a must-win if India are to make it to the AFC Asian Cup 2027.

India vs Hong Kong Live Updates: India will be facing a potentially hostile crowd in a brand new stadium. But Manolo Marquez said the team will not be intimidated.

"We will try to enjoy the situation in this stadium. I don’t know if it will be completely full, but a lot of people will be there. It will be a nice event, but obviously, we are focusing on winning the game."

India vs Hong Kong Live Updates: Fun fact - this Hong Kong team actually faced Manchester United in the build-up to the match. Yes, that Manchester United. It was a post-season friendly for the Red Devils which they won 3-1.

India vs Hong Kong Live Updates: The Indian players look calm and ready for the challenge ahead.

India vs Hong Kong Live Updates: Ashley Westwood, who is the head coach of Hong Kong, is no stranger to Indian football - he has coached Bengaluru FC, ATK, and Punjab FC in India. And he had kind words to say about India and their head coach.

"I went to India in 2013, and the country is a million miles away from where it was back then. I know their coach, I watched the ISL. He’s a good coach, and he’s been doing good things with FC Goa," Westwood said ahead of the match.

India vs Hong Kong Live Updates: India's recent results have not been great and they come in to this match on the back of a 2-0 loss to Thailand. But Marquez isn't too worried.

"In my opinion, most coaches are not worried about the scores in the friendly games. We are focussing on the important match." 

India vs Hong Kong Live Updates: The head coach Marquez seemed fairly confident about how the team environment was ahead of the crucial match. 

"The environment in the team is quite good as well. Obviously, in all teams across the world, the environment is better when you are winning games constantly. But the environment, the relationship between the players, regardless of the results, is very good," he said. 

India vs Hong Kong Live Updates: Perhaps Manolo Marquez is saving Chhetri for a second half cameo when the game remains open. If so, it seems India's tactic might well be about defensive solidity in the first half. It may work, but it will definitely not be an easy watch. 

India vs Hong Kong Live Updates: Sunil Chhetri does not make it to the playing XI for this game and will instead start on the bench. Interesting move really. 

India vs Hong Kong Live Updates: The Indian football team have arrived at the stadium. Remember, the action gets underway from 5:30 PM IST.

India vs Hong Kong Live Updates: Fun fact - the last time there was an India vs Hong Kong game was in 2022 during the AFC Asian Cup Qualifiers for 2023 and India registered a comfortable 4-0 victory on the night. That is why IND hold a slender 9-8 head to head advantage vs HKG. But the two teams have also played out 7 draws. So this is expected to be a very close game. 

India vs Hong Kong Live Updates: This is India's first away fixture in Round 3 of the qualifiers as they hosted Bangladesh in Shillong for the first match they played. Many will argue that India did not take advantage of that home game in the first go, and it is hard to disagree with that point as things stand. Hong Kong will be a tougher game, and they will be boosted by a vociferous home crowd. 

India vs Hong Kong Live Updates: For the Indian football team, the challenge is simple - win. They need to top their group and even a second-place finish isn't enough to guarantee them a spot in the AFC Asian Cup 2027. Therefore, they must look to win all their games at this point in time. 

India vs Hong Kong Live Updates: But the Indian football team will not have it easy. The Hong Kong team will be loudly supported by their local fans and are expected to create a massively uncomfortable atmosphere.

India vs Hong Kong Live Updates: In order to qualify for the AFC Asian Cup 2027, the Indian football team will need to top Group C. But they have only collected 1 point so far, against a Bangladesh team they were expected to beat. This makes this an even bigger match.

India vs Hong Kong Live Updates: Hello and welcome to the live updates of the India vs Hong Kong football match for the AFC Asian Cup qualifiers 2027. This is a key match in determining the qualification for the AFC Asian Cup 2027. And a crucial day for Indian football as a whole.