MARGAO
In front of home fans, in a cauldron of noise at the Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata, hosts India completed their AFC Asian Cup Qualifiers 2023 campaign in style with a 4-0 win over Hong Kong in the final game of Group D.
"It was one of the best games I have ever seen of India after a long long time, probably after the last Asia Cup. Thrilling and exciting match, all the boys gave their best, a superb performance... kudos to Sunil Chhetri and his boys and of course to coach Igor Stimac too," Armando Colaco, former India national coach, said.
"Whether you win or lose, people do want to see such games. Everything was there, possession, pressing, switching, one-touch play, crossing, shooting. It's worth going miles to see such games. It showed vast improvement from the boys. Chhetris goal as he hoodwinked the defence with great control and superb finishing was great to see," Colaco added.
"It was a good match. I am quite happy with the way the boys played," Alvito D'Cunha, former India midfielder, said. "Winning is one bit of it -- the way we won the match was fabulous. From the position where we were in, the team did a fabulous job," D'Cunha said, heaping praises on the players.
"I’m proud of the team. Especially the coach and the management. They have all been working hard," said Mauricio Afonso, showering praises on Liston Colaco, who he said "played marvellously".
"It was a great performance. A lot of youngsters are performing well... Akash Mishra, Anwar Ali, Liston Colaco, Sahal Abdul Samad, Ishan Pandita and Suresh Singh Wangjam Apuija have done well to step into the shoes of their seniors," said Shabir Ali, former India assistant coach.
