Two negatives and one positive from India's crushing loss to Hong Kong

India are in the fourth spot in the AFC Asian Cup 2027 qualifier group C standings.

India suffered a crushing 1-0 loss to Hong Kong in their AFC Asian Cup 2027 qualifier. A stoppage-time penalty from Stefan Pereira helped Ashley Westwood’s side get all three points and take control of the top-two places in the group, with India lingering in third with one point from two games.

The Blue Tigers had a bright start to the game and competed pretty strongly in the first half, creating quite a few chances. India also had a few impressive chances in the second half, but lost all control towards the end and ended up suffering a loss because of a sloppy penalty conceded by Vishal Kaith.

There are quite a few takeaways from this topsy-turvy performance from India, who remain without a win in their last three games. Here we look at the two negatives and one positive from the loss to Hong Kong.

Negatives

Questionable substitutions

The entire blame for the loss cannot fall to the players themselves, because their performance levels were competitive and quite proactive up until about the hour mark. India were creating chances and taking the fight to the hosts, putting them under pressure. But then, Manolo Marquez’s substitutions ended up changing the entire trajectory of the game.

The Spaniard opted to bring in Sunil Chhetri for the injured Ashique Kuruniyan, with Naorem Mahesh Singh replacing Brandon Fernandes. The latter was especially surprising considering how the Mumbai City FC midfielder created a number of chances and was a driving force for India in the opposition half.

The substitutions caused the intensity of India’s attacks and their link-up play to get disrupted, allowing Hong Kong more possession. Marquez also made some strange substitutions late on, with Rahul Bheke replacing Lallianzuala Chhangte right before the goal.

Bheke was seemingly placed as a second right back to cover for substitute Boris Singh, and this completely neutralised India’s attacking threat through the right. Marquez’s substitutes failed to have any kind of positive impact in the match and contributed to the late breakdown, allowing Hong Kong to get the win.

Finishing issues

There is a general saying in football that goals win games. The reality is that to actually score goals, a team needs clinical players who can actually convert chances clinically.

Unfortunately for India, none of their players stepped up to the plate in that aspect in the final third. India did test the opposition goalkeeper to make a few decent saves, but were not really able to force any extraordinary saves.

Ashique Kuruniyan had a huge chance to score in the first half, only to put a left-footed shot wide from open range. Kuruniyan missed another chance in the first half. Liston Colaco scuffed a few chance, and Sunil Chhetri had a shot blocked after coming on too.

India were not toothless in terms of creativity, because they created quite a few decent chances, but their final product was woeful. Unless the Indian forwards become more efficient in putting chances away, results are unlikely to improve.

Positive

Brandon Fernandes resurgence

A major positive from this dismal loss for India was the performance of Brandon Fernandes, who proved why he should be a regular starter for the Blue Tigers. The Mumbai City FC midfielder was a vibrant and smart figure in the midfield, being crisp with his passing and moving his side forward really well.

He produced some great crosses from set-pieces to create some big chances, and Brandon was definitely India’s most creative threat. He played a key role in helping Liston Colaco create Ashique’s first big chance and produced some lovely final third passes. India lost a lot of control and creative threat after Brandon was substituted, which further proves what an important figure he is in their midfield.

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