Ryan Williams Shines on Debut as India Edge Past Hong Kong 2-1 in Kochi

The Indian men's national football team ended their AFC Asian Cup 2027 Qualifiers on a high note, securing a gritty 2-1 victory over Hong Kong at the Jawaharlal Nehru International Stadium on Tuesday, March 31, 2026. ​The night belonged to Australian-born forward Ryan Williams, who made history by scoring the fastest debut goal for the Blue Tigers, setting the tone for a historic first-ever win for the national team at this iconic venue.

Some strike, that one 😮‍💨@akashmishra_4 https://t.co/7iSMXO8tem

— Indian Football (@IndianFootball) March 31, 2026

Quick Strike: Williams Sets a New Record ​In front of a roaring crowd of over 22,000 fans, India wasted no time. Just 4 minutes into the match, Williams—who recently switched allegiances to represent India—tapped home a precise cross from Manvir Singh. The strike surpassed the long-standing record for the fastest debut goal held by K Appalaraju (1963) and Mehtab Hossain (2005), both of whom scored in the 6th minute of their debuts.

He is home 🏠🇮🇳#INDHKG #ACQ2027 #BlueTigers https://t.co/285HHAc77r

— Indian Football (@IndianFootball) March 31, 2026

​Mishra Doubles the Lead ​India maintained their dominance throughout the first half, though Hong Kong's defense held firm under pressure from Lallianzuala Chhangte. Shortly after the break, in the 50th minute, left-back Akash Mishra capitalized on a loose ball following a long throw-in, firing a sharp shot from a narrow angle to make it 2-0. It was Mishra’s first senior international goal. Nervy Finish in Kochi ​Hong Kong refused to go down without a fight. In the 65th minute, Everton Camargo exploited a gap in the Indian defense, latching onto a through ball and slotting it past goalkeeper Gurpreet Singh Sandhu. ​Despite a late surge from the visitors, India’s defense, bolstered by a late debut appearance from local hero Bijoy Varghese, held steady. Varghese produced a crucial goal-saving tackle in stoppage time to ensure the Blue Tigers walked away with all three points. While India finishes the group in fourth place with 5 points—missing out on the sole qualifying spot claimed by Singapore—this victory provides a much-needed boost for head coach Khalid Jamil and a glimpse into a promising future with new talent like Williams and Varghese integrated into the squad.