Australian-born Ryan Williams marked his India debut in the most memorable fashion possible, scoring just four minutes into the match to set up a 2-1 victory over Hong Kong in an AFC Asian Cup 2027 qualifying fixture in Kochi on Tuesday.
The result gave India their first win of the third round of qualifying, though it was not enough to advance from Group C, where they finished at the bottom with five points from six matches.
A Historic Debut Goal
Williams did not take long to make his presence felt. Just four minutes into the match, Manvir Singh delivered a precise low pass into the penalty area, and Williams met it with a composed first-time finish with the outside of his right boot, sending Hong Kong goalkeeper Pong Cheuk Hei the wrong way. The strike sent the crowd of over 22,000 at the Kochi venue into celebration and etched Williams’ name into the record books.
No Indian player has ever scored earlier on their international debut. The previous record for the fastest debut goal was six minutes, a mark jointly held by K Appalaraju from 1963 and Mehtab Hossain from 2005. Williams surpassed both in his very first appearance for the national team.
The move that led to the goal was a fluid team effort. It began in India’s own half, moved through two defenders, and then involved Lallianzuala Chhangte, who swivelled and found right back Abhishek Singh. Singh then played it wide to Manvir Singh, whose slick pass set Williams free to produce an even slicker finish.
Akash Mishra Adds the Second
India doubled their lead in the 50th minute through Akash Mishra, who scored his first international goal with a powerful volley from an acute angle. The move started with Mishra winning a throw-in, after which Rahul Bheke delivered a long ball into the penalty area. The ball bounced around before Mishra struck it cleanly and emphatically into the net. It was a goal born out of intensity and physical aggression rather than subtlety, but equally effective.
Hong Kong pulled one back in the 65th minute through Brazilian-born forward Everton Camargo, who caught India’s central defenders and goalkeeper Gurpreet Singh Sandhu out of position. The goal added a degree of tension to the final stages, but India held on comfortably to claim the three points.
Williams’ Long Road to the India Shirt
The significance of Williams’ debut stretched well beyond the 90 minutes. The 31-year-old winger, who plays for Indian Super League club Bengaluru FC, had to wait over two years for this moment. FIFA’s clearance for his change of association was a lengthy process that delayed his inclusion in the national squad.
Williams had represented Australia at the youth level, featuring in the 2012 AFC Under-19 Championship and the 2013 FIFA Under-20 World Cup, but never played a senior official match for the Socceroos. He relinquished his Australian passport last year to become eligible for India, and had already been part of India’s preparatory camp for the Bangladesh fixture before missing out due to pending documentation.
After the final whistle, Williams reflected on the evening simply and directly. Just being on the pitch was remarkable to him, he said, and scoring early while also winning made the occasion everything he had hoped for.
Unfortunately, Williams did not complete the match. He limped off in the 67th minute, and his fitness will be a concern going forward. Anwar Ali was also substituted shortly after due to an injury sustained during the match.
Jamil’s Attacking Setup Delivers
Head coach Khalid Jamil opted for an unusually attacking lineup for the occasion. Williams, Manvir Singh, Liston Colaco, and Chhangte all started as wide forwards, while full-backs Abhishek Singh and Mishra pushed forward regularly. The setup was fast and fluid, with Williams given considerable freedom to drift across positions and drop into central areas.
The approach paid dividends in the early stages, with India creating several promising opportunities. Ashique Kuruniyan, however, wasted a number of clear chances, both in this fixture and in the earlier away leg in Kowloon, where India had lost 1-0. Lalengmawia Ralte controlled the midfield effectively, and his composure was particularly important after the substitutions disrupted India’s rhythm late in the second half.
The victory was also the first for Jamil as India’s head coach, adding personal significance to an already meaningful result for the squad.
India Finish Bottom of Group C
Despite the positive result, India’s qualifying campaign ended in disappointment overall. They finished at the bottom of Group C with five points, accumulated from one win and two draws across six matches. Singapore topped the group with 14 points, securing their place at the 2027 Asian Cup after beating Bangladesh 1-0 earlier the same day.
India had last won a competitive match in March 2025, a 3-0 friendly victory over the Maldives. Tuesday’s result, therefore, ended a difficult run of form and provided at least some momentum heading into the next phase of the national team’s journey. While the Asian Cup dream is over for this cycle, the performance in Kochi, particularly the fluidity and attacking intent on display, offered signs that the side is gradually finding its footing under Jamil’s management.
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