Indian football team's last five meetings against Hong Kong

The Blue Tigers and the Strength are on level pegging in recent meetings.

The AFC Asian Cup Qualifiers will see the Indian football team going up against Hong Kong at the Kai Tak Sports Park in Hong Kong on Tuesday. Coming off a humbling 2-0 defeat at the hands of Thailand, the Blue Tigers will be keen to get back to winning ways against the Strength.

On the other hand, Hong Kong would love to upset the odds and break Indian hearts as they hunt for a spot in the 2027 edition in Saudi Arabia. Let us look closer at the past five encounters between these two sides and determine if the Indian football team can really get the better of the Strength.

Indian football team’s past five encounters against Hong Kong:

India 4-0 Hong Kong [14th June 2022] (AFC Asian Cup Qualifiers)

The most recent clash between both sides was a dominant display from the Blue Tigers, as Indian football team thrashed Hong Kong 4-0 in the AFC Asian Cup 2023 Qualifiers held in Kolkata. Stimac’s men were in ruthless form, with goals from Anwar Ali, Sunil Chhetri, Manvir Singh, and Ishan Pandita.

The win not only secured their place in the tournament but also marked one of their most emphatic performances in recent memory. The home crowd at Salt Lake Stadium witnessed a clinical and confident Indian side that controlled the game from start to finish.

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India 0-1 Hong Kong [4th October 2010] (International Friendly)

The Blue Tigers hosted Hong Kong in a friendly in 2010 and suffered a narrow 1-0 defeat. Played as part of the team’s preparations for upcoming games, the match exposed defensive frailties and lacked the attacking sharpness that India had shown in later years.

Hong Kong’s disciplined setup frustrated the Indian football team forwards, and a solitary goal was enough to hand them victory. A left-footed shot from Haiqiang Li in the 76th minute was enough for Hong Kong to get the better of the Blue Tigers on the night.

Hong Kong 2-1 India [14th January 2009] (International Friendly)

A year earlier, Hong Kong also had edged past the Blue Tigers 2-1 in another international friendly between the sides. Despite a spirited effort from the Indian side, defensive lapses allowed the hosts to capitalise on their chances.

The match, part of a series of pre-tournament friendlies, saw the away side experimenting with squad rotations, but Hong Kong’s tactical discipline proved decisive. Goals from Au Chung and Wai-Chiu Ng were enough to help the Strength past the Indian football team despite a lifeline goal through Bhaichung Bhutia.

Hong Kong 2-2 India [18th February 2006] (International Friendly)

One of the more balanced contests between the two teams came in February 2006 when the match between the Indian football team and Hong Kong ended in a 2-2 draw. Both teams played an expansive brand of football and traded goals in a game that reflected the evenly matched quality within the sides at the time.

It was a competitive fixture that lacked a winner but offered plenty of attacking moments. A first half flurry from Hong Kong, courtesy of Gerard and Chun-Bong La,w was cancelled out late rally from Bhaichung Bhutia and Syed Nabi, sparing the away side blushes.

Hong Kong 1-3 India [13th June 1993] (International Friendly)

Going further back, the Indian football team defeated Hong Kong 3-1 in a friendly in June 1993. The victory marked a high point in the early 90s for Indian football, with a solid performance on foreign soil against a very game Hong Kong side.

The match showcased the Indian football team’s attacking strength and tactical flexibility at a time when the team was still developing its modern identity. An exciting fixture it set the tone for the competitive rivalry both sides would enjoy against one another in the years to come.

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