India will look to draw motivation from its “dramatic” win over Afghanistan as it prepares to face a technically strong Hong Kong in the concluding Group D fixture of the AFC Asian Cup qualifying final round, at the Salt Lake Stadium here on Sunday.
This match pits the two top two sides in the current standings to decide the group topper. India and Hong Kong are tied on six points from two wins each but the latter currently holds top spot because of a better goal difference.
Given the situation, India needs a win to secure top spot and ensure its passage to Asian Cup 2023 final stage. There are some spots reserved for the best second place finishers but head coach Igor Stimac prefers India taking the straight-forward route.