 "'Get a manager and a system that works': India's loss to Hong Kong sparks backlash")
The Indian national football team suffered a heartbreaking 0-1 loss to Hong Kong on Tuesday in a crucial 2027 AFC Asian Cup qualifier game. The result has not gone down well with Indian football fans and stakeholders, who took to social media to slam the team and the management.
The match, played at the newly built Kai Tak Stadium in Hong Kong, saw the home team grab a last-minute winner thanks to Stefan Pereira, who converted a penalty in stoppage time after a foul by Indian goalkeeper Vishal Kaith. Despite creating a few good chances, India once again struggled to finish, and it has left their qualification hopes at risk.
Reactions pour in after India lose to Hong Kong
Strong reactions poured in on social media soon after the match. Bengaluru FC owner Parth Jindal didn’t hold back his frustration. Former AIFF General Secretary Shaji Prabhakaran also voiced his disappointment. Here are some of the reactions that are going viral after India’s defeat to Hong Kong.
“This is completely unacceptable @IndianFootball - just not good enough under any circumstances - deep introspection needed by the AIFF - this is not what all of us lovers and backers of Indian football have spent our hard earned money and effort to witness - get a manager and a system that works - it’s high time - there is too much effort to see a result like this," Parth Jindal wrote on Twitter.
“A tough pill to swallow: 1-0 loss to Hong Kong in their new Kai Tak Stadium. A far cry from our 4-0 win in 2022. This puts our AFC Asian Cup 2027 qualification in serious jeopardy. The decision to appoint a dual-responsibility coach backfired. Please don’t say we lost coz we don’t have OCI/PIO, it was about poor performance, echoing the Thailand game. Manolo’s gamble hasn’t paid off. Sunil’s return hasn’t paid off either. Our disaster run continues,” Shaji Prabhakaran said.
This is completely unacceptable @IndianFootball - just not good enough under any circumstances - deep introspection needed by the AIFF - this is not what all of us lovers and backers of Indian football have spent our hard earned money and effort to witness - get a manager and a…
— Parth Jindal (@ParthJindal11) June 10, 2025
A tough pill to swallow: 1-0 loss to Hong Kong in their new Kai Tak Stadium.
— Shaji Prabhakaran (@Shaji4Football) June 10, 2025
A far cry from our 4-0 win in 2022. This puts our AFC Asian Cup 2027 qualification in serious jeopardy.
The decision to appoint a dual-responsibility coach backfired.
Please don’t say we lost coz…
This very game (and the last 6 months) should be included in a University MBA Program as a case study in mismanagement (and shocking man management ) of an organisation. If #IndianFootball was a global corporate entity they would currently be facing a class action lawsuit pic.twitter.com/XYYsPkXIaG
— Joe Morrison (@joefooty) June 10, 2025
What happened in the match?
Earlier in the day, Manolo Marquez kept out veteran striker Sunil Chhetri from the starting XI.
A sea of red packed the stands at the newly built Kai Tak Stadium but despite the strong home support, India did pretty well to create a few chances in the first half, even though Hong Kong enjoyed more possession.
But, as has been the trend with them in recent times, the lack of finishing has again let the Blue Tigers down in the first 45 minutes.
Among the opportunities that came their way before the half time break, the Indians came closest in the 35th minute but Ashique Kuruniyan shot the ball wide from a close range after Liston Colaco ran down the left to provide him a nice cross.
Meanwhile, after having received medical attention after getting injured, Colaco unleashed a powerful long-range shot but it went straight into the keeper’s gloves.
Hong Kong also grew in confidence as the game approached the half time. The home team could have taken the lead from a free-kick had it not been for a timely clearance by Asish Rai from goal-mouth after custodian Vishal Kaith was beaten.
Both India and Hong Kong have had their moments but neither side could convert in a tightly contested first half of this crucial 2027 AFC Asian Cup Qualifier.
Kuruniyan, who has otherwise performed his job admirably on the flanks, looked to have got another chance to break the deadlock some minutes into the second half, but could not.
Soon after, coach Marquez brought on India’s all-time highest goal-scorer Chhetri alongside Naorem Singh in place of Kuruniyan and Brandon Fernandes.
India created chances in the second half too, including in the 81st minute when Lallianzuala Chhangte found Chhetri with a brilliant cutback inside the Hong Kong box, but the veteran striker was not able to connect it well.
The result is a setback for India who came into the game after a goal-less draw against Bangladesh in their first Asian Cup qualifying match, at home in March. India have one point from two games and are last in the group, and only one team from the pool of four will qualify for the final.
India will now need to win their remaining four matches, but given their inability to score, it looks improbable.
(With agency inputs)
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