Perth-born Ryan Williams described his India debut as a moment that felt almost unreal after scoring within minutes in a 2-1 win over Hong Kong in an Asian Cup qualifier in Kochi on Tuesday.
The Australian-born forward, who recently switched allegiance to India, struck in the fourth minute to hand the hosts an early lead. Reflecting on the goal, Williams said he had replayed the scenario so often in his mind that when it finally happened, everything felt “blurry”.
“I have been dreaming about this for a long time and have done a lot of work to make this happen,” he said in a video shared by the All India Football Federation. “You couldn’t write it, in Kerala, the home of football, scoring within five minutes and winning. It just went blurry.”
The goal marked a dream start for the 32-year-old, who had to wait for his chance after completing documentation to represent India. Having previously featured for Australia at youth level, Williams became eligible for India after securing his passport last year.
DREAM START IN KOCHI
India began on the front foot, with Williams capitalising early to energise a vocal home crowd. The atmosphere in Kochi, long considered one of the country’s football strongholds, added to the significance of the occasion.
Williams admitted he struggled to control his emotions after scoring, saying instinct took over as he celebrated a moment he had long imagined.
Akash Mishra added India’s second goal in the 50th minute, also his first at the international level, giving the hosts control of the contest before Hong Kong pulled one back later in the match.
The forward also thanked the fans for their support, saying 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 had already ended in disappointment. The side, coached by Khalid Jamil, finished bottom of Group C with five points from six matches.
The win over Hong Kong was their only victory in the third round of qualifiers, offering a measure of consolation after a run of inconsistent results.
Williams stressed that the team’s success mattered more than his individual milestone, highlighting the importance of ending the campaign on a positive note.
“It means nothing if you score and don’t win,” he said. “We know we cannot go further with this result but it still feels special.”
For India, the result provided a rare moment of encouragement. For Williams, it marked the beginning of his international journey in colours he had long hoped to represent.
– Ends
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