India vs Hong Kong: AFC Asia Cup 2023 Qualifier Match Preview,Team News and Predicted Line-ups

India vs Hong Kong is the upcoming match in the AFC Asi Cup 2023 qualifier as with two wins to their name, the Indian men's team will look to end the final leg of the Asian Cup Qualifiers on a high when they take on Hong Kong at the Salt Lake Stadium on Tuesday

India vs Hong Kong: Match Preview:

The Indian football team will lock horns with Hong Kong in their third and final Group D encounter of the AFC Asian Cup 2023 Qualifiers third round at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan in Kolkata on Tuesday, June 14.  

Under head coach Igor Stimac, India secured their second consecutive victory in Group D after they pipped Afghanistan 2-1 in a thrilling encounter on Saturday. 

After India's talismanic captain Sunil Chhetri opened the scoring for the Blue Tigers in the 86th minute, Zohib Islam Amiri equalised for Afghanistan just two minutes later. With India desperate for a win, midfielder Sahal Abdul Samad scored an important goal in the 91st minute to help India bag three valuable points from the clash. 

Earlier, India defeated Cambodia 2-0 courtesy of a brace from Sunil Chhetri. With six points from two matches, India are currently placed second in the standings.

On the other hand, the Hong Kong football team thrashed Cambodia 3-0 to jump to the top of Group D standings courtesy a better goal difference than India. Matt Orr, Sun Ming-him and Philip Chan Siu-Kwan were the goalscorers for Hong Kong on Saturday. Earlier, Hong Kong started their AFC Asian Cup 2023 Qualifiers with a 2-1 win over Afghanistan.

If India win their clash against Hong Kong, the Blue Tigers will qualify for the AFC Asian Cup 2023 as group winners. On the other hand, if the hosts draw against Hong Kong, they will finish second in the group due to Hong Kong's better goal difference. However, India will still have a chance of qualifying as one of the five best second-placed teams across six groups.

If India lose against Hong Kong, the Blue Tigers will finish with six points. Even in this scenario, India will still have a chance of finishing among the five best runners-ups. A win, however, will be a favourable result for Chhetri and Co.

India vs Hong Kong: Head to Head:

India and Hong Kong have met 15 times so far, with the Blue Tigers leading the head-to-head 7 to 4. However, Igor Stimac's side last beat their opponents in 1993, having drawn once with them in 2006, while losing twice in 2009 and 2010.

India's team for the Asian Cup 2023 Qualifiers:

Goalkeepers: Gurpreet Singh Sandhu, Laxmikanth Kattimani, Amrinder Singh

Defenders: Rahul Bheke, Akash Mishra, Harmanjot Singh Khabra, Roshan Singh, Anwar Ali, Sandesh Jhingan, Subhashish Bose, Pritam Kotal

Midfielders: Jeakson Singh, Anirudh Thapa, Glan Martins, Brandon Fernandes, Deepak Tangri, Udanta Singh, Yasir Mohammad, Sahal Abdul Samad, Suresh Wangjam, Ashique Kuruniyan, Liston Colaco

Forwards: Ishan Pandita, Sunil Chhetri, Manvir Singh.

Match Details:

India play Hong Kong at the VYBK on Tuesday (June 14, 2022)
Match kicks off at 8.30 pm IST.
Live telecast on Star Sports network Live streaming on Disney+ Hotstar and Jio TV
Afghanistan play Cambodia in the other match of the day at 5 pm IST.

Predicted Line-ups:

India playing XI (probable): Gurpreet Singh Sandhu; Roshan Naorem, Sandesh Jhinghan, Anwar Ali, Akash Mishra; Anirudh Thapa, Suresh Singh Wangjam, Brandon Fernandes; Manvir Singh, Sunil Chhetri, Liston Colaco.

Hong Kong playing XI (probable): Yapp Hung Fai (goalkeeper); Yue Tze Nam, Yu Wai Lim, Fung Hing Wa, Wong Tsz Ho; Chan Siu Kwan, Huang Yang, Wong Wai; Law Tsz Chun, Matt Orr, Jahangir Khan