New Delhi, April 19 -- Dream debuts don't come any better. A lot of the conversation before the tie against Hong Kong last month was about Bengaluru FC winger Ryan Williams's first appearance for the Indian national team. And he certainly arrived in style.

Just 4 minutes into the game, Williams was on the scoresheet with his first shot on target. It was an inconsequential tie in Kochi, considering both teams were out of the reckoning for the 2027 AFC Asian Cup. But there was a certain solace for the hosts in the 2-1 scoreline, their first win in what was otherwise a miserable qualifying campaign where they finished rock bottom in a pool featuring lower-ranked opposition.

"A sense of relief at first because there was so much talk about m...