Perth-born Ryan Williams described his India debut as a moment that was almost surreal after scoring within minutes of a 2-1 win over Hong Kong in an Asian Cup qualifier in Kochi on Tuesday.
The Australian-born striker, who recently switched to India, struck in the fourth minute to give the visitors an early lead. When thinking about the goal, Williams said he played the scenario over in his mind so often that when it finally happened, everything was a “blur.”
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“I have dreamed of this for a long time and I have done a lot of work to make it happen,” he said in a video shared by the All India Football Federation. “You couldn’t write it, in Kerala, the home of football, to score within five minutes and win. It just got blurred.”
This goal marked the start of dreams for the thirty-two-year-old competitor, who had to wait for his chance after completing the documentation to represent India. Having previously featured for Australia at youth level, Williams became eligible for India after securing his passport last year.
THE BEGINNING OF DREAMS IN KOCHI
India started on the front foot, with Williams capitalizing early to galvanize the vociferous home crowd. The atmosphere in Kochi, long regarded as one of the football bastions of the country, added significance to the occasion.
Williams admitted he struggled to control his emotions after scoring the goal and said instinct took over as he celebrated the moment he had long envisioned.
Akash Mishra added India’s second goal in the 50th minute, also his first at international level, to put the hosts in control of the match before Hong Kong pulled one back later in the game.
The forward also thanked the fans for their support and said the energy from the stands made the night even more special for him and his family.
CONSOLATION WIN FOR INDIA
Despite the victory, India’s campaign has already ended in disappointment. The Khalid Jamil-coached side finished bottom of Group C with five points from six matches.
The the victory over Hong Kong was their only victory in the third round of the qualifiers, offering some measure of consolation after a string of inconsistent results.
Williams emphasized that the team’s success mattered more than his individual milestone and stressed the importance of ending the campaign on a positive note.
“It doesn’t mean anything if you score and don’t win,” he said. “We know we can’t go on with this result, but it’s still strange.
For India, the result provided a rare moment of encouragement. For Williams, it marked the start of his international journey in the colors he had long hoped to represent.
– The end
Issued by:
Amar Panicker
Published on:
01 April 2026 20:37 IST
