India vs HongKong Live: India THRASH Hong Kong 4-0 in the AFC Asian Qualifiers 2023

India vs HongKong Live – AFC Asian Cup Qualifiers (IND 4-0 HKG) – India celebrated their qualification for the Finals of the AFC Asian Cup 2023 on Tuesday by handing Hong Kong a 4-0 defeat at Kolkata’s VYBK Stadium that ensured Igor Stimac’s side finished on top of the standings in Group D. Anwar Ali, Sunil Chhetri, Manvir Singh and Ishan Pandita were amongst the goals for the blue outfit. Follow AFC Asian Cup Qualifiers Updates with InsideSport.IN

India vs HongKong Live: India THRASH Hong Kong 4-0 in the AFC Asian Qualifiers 2023, Sunil Chhetri amongst the goals for the Blue Tigers, Watch India beat HongKong HIGHLIGHTS

FULL-TIME! #BlueTigers 🐯 seals another win by defeating Hong Kong 🇭🇰 by 4-0 and 🔝the GROUP D table with 9️⃣ points!

IND 4️⃣-0️⃣ HKG #INDHKG ⚔️ #ACQ2023 🏆 #BlueTigers 🐯 #IndianFootball ⚽ #ENGvsNZ #INDvsSAT20 #INDvSA #INDvsSA pic.twitter.com/CceCL7G2xP

— Indian Cricket Team (@Teamindia_fans) June 14, 2022

India vs HongKong Live: India THRASH Hong Kong 4-0 at the VYBK Stadium

The win sees India complete the Qualifiers with a perfect record after earlier wins over Afghanistan and Cambodia, while Hong Kong have also secured their place at next year’s Finals after claiming one of the five best runners-up spots with their six-point haul.

A goal at either end of the first half put the Indians on their way to victory as Stimac’s side made sure of top spot in the group against a Hong Kong side that was celebrating qualification for the AFC Asian Cup for the first time since 1968.

India vs HongKong Live: India THRASH Hong Kong 4-0 in the AFC Asian Qualifiers 2023, Sunil Chhetri amongst the goals for the Blue Tigers, Watch India beat HongKong HIGHLIGHTS

India vs HongKong Live: Sunil Chhetri and Anwar Ali amongst the goals

Anwar Ali struck with less than a minute on the clock to give the home side the perfect start, smashing his shot into the roof of the net after the Hong Kong defence had failed to clear Udanta Singh Kumam’s cross following a short corner.

Yapp Hung-fai’s reflex save from Sahal Abdul Samad in the 27th minute underlined the threat the Indians continued to carry while Sun was unfortunate to only steer Ju’s free-kick into Gurpreet Singh’s hands and Orr headed over soon after with the goalkeeper stranded.

India vs HongKong Live: India THRASH Hong Kong 4-0 in the AFC Asian Qualifiers 2023, Sunil Chhetri amongst the goals for the Blue Tigers, Watch India beat HongKong HIGHLIGHTS

However, rather than claim the equaliser, Hong Kong slipped further behind in injury time. A moment of magic from Sunil Chhetri, who had been subdued to that point, was all it took, the 37-year-old pulling Akash Mishra’s free-kick out of the air with his right before stroking home calmly with his left.

India vs HongKong Live: India celebrate Qualification with a 4-0 win

Chhetri was denied a second six minutes after the restart when Yapp pushed his shot wide after a mistake by Fung Hing-wa had presented the ball to the striker deep into Hong Kong territory.

India vs HongKong Live: India THRASH Hong Kong 4-0 in the AFC Asian Qualifiers 2023, Sunil Chhetri amongst the goals for the Blue Tigers, Watch India beat HongKong HIGHLIGHTS

India claimed their third with five minutes remaining as substitute Glan Martins swept the ball in from 10 yards, hitting a low shot that Yapp was unable to prevent from crossing the line and Martins turned provider in injury time as Ishan Pandita turned in the fourth.