India’s Sunil Chhetri-led team trounced Hong Kong 4-0 at the Salt Lake Stadium on Tuesday (June 14), finishing first in their AFC Asian Cup 2023 Qualifiers group. Anwar Ali of the Blue Tigers scored the game’s first goal in just three minutes, and India pounced on Hong Kong, denying them any respite or space to breathe.
After Palestine defeated Philippines in a group B match in Ulaanbaatar, India had already qualified for the Asian Cup Finals.
The Blue Tigers took an early 1-0 lead, with Anwar, a 21-year-old center-back, scoring his first international goal four years after his career was nearly cut short due to illness.
With a right-footed strike into the top corner, the 2017 Under-17 World Cup star, whose career had been put on hiatus after being diagnosed with a rare heart ailment (Hypertrophic Myocardiopathy), scored from a short Ashique Kuruniyan corner.
FULL-TIME! The #BlueTigers clinch another victory by defeating Hong Kong 4-0, putting them in first place in GROUP D!
Playing with Sandesh Jhingan, the versatile defender not only made his presence felt in the backline but also made some smooth moves up forward.
Just before halftime, the talismanic Chhetri extended the lead with a 30-yard freekick, his fourth goal of the tournament.
Jeakson Singh floated in a magnificent freekick, which the skipper controlled brilliantly with a clever first touch before calmly putting it home for his 84th international goal, tying him with Hungarian legend Ferenc Puska for the most international goals.
He also made the top-five list of international goal scorers. Among active players, the Indian legend is only two goals behind Argentine sensation Lionel Messi, who is followed by Portuguese Cristiano Ronaldo (117).
Brandon Fernandes started the move from the right and played a rapid 1-2 with Roshan Singh before Manvir struck the target late in the second half.
On song, India counter-attacked, and Pandita converted a cross from the right by Manvir.
Both teams confirmed their Asian Cup Finals berths more than eight hours before their match, thanks to Palestine’s 4-0 win over Philippines, who were eliminated after finishing as the worst runners-up from the six groups.
With little pressure on them, Stimac’s team made two bold changes in the starting XI, replacing Liston Colaco and Manvir with Sahal Abdul Samad and Udanta Singh.