New Delhi: 

For India, the worst was saved for the last in their 1-0 loss to Hong Kong that plunged their AFC Asian Cup qualifying campaign in a crisis and made head coach Manolo Marquez’s stint end on a bitter note.

Poor finishing:

In hindsight, Marquez would look at all the missed chances during his one-year stint with the national team as he prepares to extend his life at FC Goa.

On top of that would be an unmarked Aashique Kuruniyan’s failure to guide the ball with his left foot in the 35th minute on Tuesday once Liston Colaco’s swift left footed low cross allowed him to be one-on-one inside the box.

Kuruniyan’s decision to use his predominant left foot rather than the weaker right foot would be questioned, just as Colaco’s wild left footed shot from an acute angle once he was fed inside the box by Sunil Chhetri.

Coming in as a second half substitute, Chhetri also couldn’t slot the ball in once Chhangte had slipped past his marker and squared it for him.

A last-ditch lunge saved Hong Kong on that occasion just as Anwar Ali’s desperate tackle kept the scoreline goalless in the first half.

In between both teams tried to break well-trained defensive units but had no collective ability to penetrate through or individual brilliance to make any difference to the proceedings.

Until Kaith barged into substitute Udebuluzor, who used his imposing physique to leave a mark.

After 90 minutes of cancelling each other out, it looked like both teams would settle for a point against an opponent 26 ranking slots below them at the 50,000 capacity, newly-built Kai Tak Stadium.

Bringing in Rahul Bheke for Lallianzuala Chhangte in the first minute of added time suggested Marquez also accepted a draw, after 90 minutes of blunt goal mouth action.

But then an error in judgement from Vishal Kaith in the second added minute turned the complexion of the match as he charged out to punch away the ball but only got Michael Udebuluzor’s head.

Lebanese referee Shiekh Ahmad Alaeddin pointed to the spot and flashed a yellow card. Pereira Stefan then hopped and skipped to wrongfoot Kaith and roll the ball in off the post to send the 42,570 red-shirt clad spectators into delirium.

With a winning start at their newest venue, Hong Kong shot up to provisional group top with four points from two games while India plunged to the bottom tentatively with only a point earned from their goalless home draw with Bangladesh on March 25.

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