Asian Nt Friendly Matches 2012

Indonesia 2-4 Inter milan

 

WOW IRAN!!!

 

Iran Vs. Albania - Match Highlights

 

South China Morning Post

Hong Kong vs Singapore: Chan's absence won't affect attacking mindset

Chan Kin-wa

Hong Kong will play their attacking style against Singapore in their international friendly in So Kon Po tonight despite the absence of leading goal scorer Chan Siu-ki.

The striker, who hit a hat-trick against Taiwan in February when Hong Kong won 5-1, withdrew from the team last week, for personal reasons.

Coach Ernie Merrick, who will be in charge of his second match since his arrival in January, acknowledged his job was to manage such problems and said the striker's absence would not affect his attacking game plan.

"Coaches always make little changes for the better of the team and it's never just a case of that player out this player in," he said.

"I need to get the combination up front right. If I don't get it right, we don't score goals and won't win games. Against Singapore, the bottom line is to win the game, which is realistically achievable."

The former Melbourne Victory coach was delighted with the preparation time he has been given for the match which aims at improving Hong Kong's world ranking. Hong Kong are 161st in the Fifa standings while the visitors are 158th.

"If we play Spain, I would say something different but against Singapore or Taiwan, it's all about winning," he said. "And if we can't beat a team like this, I don't think there is any future for Hong Kong soccer."

There was good news for the team when it was announced Ghana-born forward Godfred Karikari would be able to make his debut after receiving a last-minute clearance from the Ghana Football Association.

Hong Kong last met Singapore in 2006, also in an international friendly, when the score was 1-1.

 

June 1

Guam 6-2 Guam League All-Stars

 

South China Morning Post

Merrick demands more as HK edge Singapore​

Chan Kin-wa​

Coach Ernie Merrick made it two wins out of two after Hong Kong defeated Singapore 1-0 in a hard-fought victory that left the Australian feeling his charges still must improve.​

Although pleased Hong Kong maintained their unbeaten run by beating the visitors in front of a 4,200 crowd at the Hong Kong Stadium, Merrick wasn't overly satisfied at the end of the friendly international.​

Merrick, who arrived in January under the government's Project Phoenix to revive Hong Kong soccer, admitted the local side appeared disjointed in the second half after they were forced to bring in players to replace tired ones.​

"I also made some structural changes in defence in the second half when we came under pressure but when we made those changes, the team lost their cohesion and that's what happened tonight," he said. "They [Singapore] chased us all over the ground and made us work hard for the win."​

Kitchee midfielder Lam Ka-wai, who had a terrific match according to Merrick, scored the only goal in the 36th minute to keep Hong Kong unbeaten after two matches under the Australian coach. Hong Kong thrashed Taiwan 5-1 in another friendly in February. "It was a tough win as we were pressured hard by Singapore, especially in the second half when they were looking desperately for the equaliser," said a delighted Lam, who forgot how long since he last scored for Hong Kong. "Victory will certainly bring us more confidence."​

Lam's goal proved why he earned praise from Merrick. He cleverly rounded a defender inside the box after collecting a cross from Au Yeung Yiu-chung before beating Singapore goalkeeper Hyrulnizam Jumaat with a clinical finish despite lying prostrate on the ground.​

Au Yeung, in fact, should have scored Hong Kong's second in the closing stages of the first half. The right flanker was free to shoot after Jumaat blocked Lee Hong-lim's attempt, but Au Yeung shot straight to the goalkeeper.​

Singapore's best chance came five minutes after the break when a header from their striker Agu Casmir was first stopped by Hong Kong goalkeeper Yapp Hung-fai, who was quick to collect the loose ball before Singaporean players could react to it.​

"The match could have gone either way as we missed a couple of chances, but Hong Kong played well, very aggressive and can be a good team," said Singapore coach Radojko Avramovic.​

"I am not unhappy with the result as we had six players who played their first match for the team,"​

Hong Kong's next game is against Vietnam in eight days' time.​

 

Reading this article http://www.gulf-daily-news.com/NewsDetails.aspx?storyid=331461 we now have:

8.6 Kuwait - Bahrain
12.6 Kuwait - Bahrain

I'm guesing both played in Egypt where Bahrain are currently in training camp?

 

I thought China's performance was very impressive and the end result is not too bad against a team like Spain.

 

The Sri Lanka - Maldives match has been delayed yet again. The match is supposed to be the inaugural game at Sri Lankan national team's brand new football stadium, so I'm assuming that the construction work is behind schedule.

 

South China Morning Post

Merrick wary of Vietnam test

Hong Kong coach admits Sunday's opponents will present a formidable challenge, but insists his team will always go looking for wins, not draws

Alvin Sallay

Hong Kong will have to endure growing pains, warned coach Ernie Merrick, as the third game under his watch - against Vietnam at Mongkok Stadium on Sunday - presents a formidable challenge.

Hong Kong face the sternest test since Merrick took over in January against a team in the world's top 100. Vietnam are 97th, while Hong Kong are a lowly 161. That gap reflects the task facing the home team who have won both matches under Merrick's tutelage - a 5-1 victory over Taiwan and a 1-0 win over Singapore.

"We are not going to win every game we play," Merrick cautioned. "Vietnam are a tough side who play at pace. But the important thing is we have to go out there looking for a win. There is no point in going for an honourable draw. We must play a brand of football which gives us the opportunity to win."

The 59-year-old's footballing philosophy was shaped in his previous life as coach of Australian champions Melbourne Victory, a team he took all the way to the Asian Champions League. He is a firm believer that nothing comes to you - you have to go out and grab it yourself.

The Scots-born Australian, one of the first building blocks of Project Phoenix, the government-backed plan to revitalise the game in Hong Kong, believes the way forward is to adopt the twin strategy of playing an attractive style of soccer which will draw the fans through the turnstiles, as well as giving youth a chance.

His squads in the last two internationals have heavily favoured younger blood. And Merrick promises this will continue in the future.

"Hong Kong's future is in its youth. I began with the aim of reducing the average age of the squad, and this will continue to be the case, but having said that, experience also counts," said Merrick. "But we have to give younger players the chance to play at the highest level.

"We will lose games, but it is better to lose games fielding younger players. At least they get the experience of having played at international level, and hopefully will learn from that."

Merrick has yet to announce his squad for Sunday's encounter, but it is likely he will retain the experienced duo of captain Chan Wai-ho and Lee Chi-ho as centre backs. He wants the spine of his team to be strengthened by wise old heads and, while he is content with his defence, the bigger concern is finding creativity in midfield.

"This is an area of worry," Merrick admitted.

And coming up against a team ranked way ahead of Hong Kong will make the job even more difficult.

"This will be a tougher test but we have to be brave," Merrick said.

Growing up is always not easy. Hong Kong's goal is to enter the world's top 100. It will take time - five years according to Merrick - at least until the youth of today mature.