Kolkata: In the second game of the AFC Asian Cup Qualifying round 3, India defeated Afghanistan 2-1. India won their second game in a row thanks to a magnificent free-kick by talismanic captain Sunil Chhetri and a last-gasp winner by youngster Sahal Abdul Samad. India is now second in the ground table, trailing Hong Kong only on goal difference.
The Asian Cup qualification is in its third and final stage, with 24 teams divided into six groups. Six group winners and five best-ranked two teams will join the 13 countries that have already qualified for the 2023 Asian Cup to round out the 24-team field.
With the victory over Afghanistan, India is almost certain to qualify. India’s next match is against Hong Kong, and if they win, India would qualify as the group winner. India may still qualify for the Asian Cup as the top 5 ranked group runner-ups if they play a draw or lose. On the 14th of June, India will play Hong Kong, a lowly ranked opponent, in a bid to win the group. Hong Kong, like India, will arrive with two victories over Cambodia and Afghanistan. It’ll be interesting to see who comes out on top for bragging rights at the end of the night.
