KOCHI: It proved a beautiful night at the Jawaharlal Nehru International Stadium on Tuesday as India took down Hong Kong 2-1 in their 2027 AFC Asian Cup Qualifiers encounter. When the Blue Tigers hit the net twice, sealing their first-ever victory at the ‘house of dreams’ in Kochi, a crowd of 22,690 fans soared with joy. As the stadium reverberated with chants of ‘Vande Mataram’, the Indian team, comprising the best players of the season, kissed the pitch at the blow of the final whistle.
Right by six in the evening, the metro cars and buses to the JLN Stadium station were filled with blue jerseys. Youngsters from across the state thronged the venue, which saw its east and west galleries getting filled after a long time. The roaring galleries, with fans waving the Tricolour and according a great reception to the national team, was indeed a gesture of grandeur in Kochi.
The Kaloor stadium, home to the Indian Super League team Kerala Blasters FC, had always been a powerhouse of fans spurring the home team on. That’s exactly what awaited the national team on the day and the Blue Tigers went on to play with zeal to register a morale-boosting win in Kochi, where they were playing after a decade. “It was a beautiful game to watch. India truly dominated the pitch and snatched victory,” said a young fan, Ishaan P T.
The crowd that waited around the stadium until the team bus left the premises had nothing less to say.
A banger from debutant Ryan Williams just four minutes into the game, followed by a second from Akash Mishra in the 50th minute, was something the football fans in Kerala craved for, after having witnessed successive losses for the home team in the ISL.