Hong Kong Football Thread II (R)

A big moment for Jorn Andersen and Hong Kong as they face off against Palestine in what will be an important game as both sides are still seeking their first AFC Asian Cup win and hoping to keep their Round of 16 chances alive.

Want to wish Jorn and the team all the best for tonight and hopefully the results will go in their favour.

 

With China on only 2 points, and Syria, as it stands at the moment, also on 2 points, a win of any sorts for either team sees them into the round of 16...

 

Here is the starting XI to play against Palestine:

• Tai Po's Tse Ka Wing earns his first Asian Cup start as he comes in place of Yapp Hung Fai who is in the substitutes bench with Vas Nunez being handed the captain's armband.
• There is also a first start for Michael Udebuluzor in which he comes in place of Sun Ming Him who is also on the substitutes bench.
• Having been absent in their two previous fixtures, Helio Goncalves and Juninho have made it on to the substitutes bench in place of Chang Hei Yin and Sean Tse.

 

HT: Hong Kong Vs Palestine - 0:1

Jorn Andersen's side are currently trailing Palestine by a single goal on the 12th minute. There is an early substitution for Vas Nunez who seem to had an injury and was replaced by Li Ngai Hoi.

Anything can still happen within the second half, can Hong Kong find a way back in to the game?

 

FT: Hong Kong Vs Palestine - 0:3

Unfortunately, it is not to be for Hong Kong as their AFC Asian Cup run comes to an end as they conceded another two goals. There was a but of late drama when Hong Kong were awarded a penalty during the last couple of minutes and sadly Everton's shot was saved.

Despite the defeat, I'm sure the boys and Jorn Andersen have done everything they could. Chan Siu Kwan scoring the 1000th Asian Cup goal is certainly going to be one of the national team's highlight for sure.

 

Slight correction on my previous post is that Everton's shot hit the woodwork not saved.

Other than that, I do feel that the national team's appearance in the AFC Asian Cup finals will definitely give players the experience and there are a number of areas that certainly will need to be worked upon.

The next question that will be asked is what is the next step for the national team and the HKFA must do to ensure that they can qualify for the next edition of the AFC Asian Cup?

 

My greatest worry is that the players that play in the Premier League will all go back to their clubs and play low intensity, low energy football, and all of the work that Andersen has done over the past month to build up their fitness levels will be undone by the time the next window rolls around.

 

Ju Yingzhi who had not featured within any of Hong Kong's AFC Asian Cup final fixtures has announced his retirement from international football from his instagram post.

 

This kind of mirrors what Andersen implied in an SCMP article:

"Andersen said the conversation about how to upgrade Hong Kong’s domestic football structure was for another day.

But when he looked ahead to home and away World Cup qualifiers with Uzbekistan in March, there was a hint towards the Norwegian’s fears over handing players back to their clubs.

“There are two big differences after the past weeks together,” Andersen said. “Firstly, the condition of the players, they trained very hard, and they could compete with big teams. Then, tactically, we tried to attack all the opponents, however excellent. We played our way, creating chances, pushing and pressing them, and disturbing their build-up.

“We are in the right way, but now we go back to Hong Kong, and have two months without training. The players go back to their clubs, then face Uzbekistan, which will be very hard.”"

Which players do you predict will consider making a move there?

 

I think CLO teams are likely to pull the trigger on Everton and Gerbig. Li Ngai Hoi allegedly has already agreed terms with a China team; I'd say Tan Chun Lok and Shinichi are also on the shortlist to be scooped up by a Chinese team.

 

This is quite a surprise. In addition to Wellingsson de Souza, Leung Hing Kit joins bottom club Sham Shui Po SA from BC Rangers. Will he and Wellingsson be able to turn things around at the club?

 

Having spent one season in China League One with Dandong Tenyue, 26 year old defensive midfielder Remi Dujardin (who is the older brother of HK U23 defender Alex) joins BC Rangers.

 

North Korea had been back playing in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers and I think it is likely they will be set to return to compete for a place for the next E1 EAFF Cup finals which is going to be a challenge for the Hong Kong team.

Whilst I do agree that it is best for the national team to concentrate within the upcoming fixtures, but at the same time, I do feel that the Hong Kong Football Association must start planning ahead in order to prepare the players.

To everyone, what do you think of the Sapling Cup?

 

Waste. Of. Time.

Only exists because teams entering the ACL need to have played at least 27 matches in the prior domestic season. Therefore, the Sapling Cup exists to pad the number of games each team plays.

 

The final squad for the upcoming Guangdong-HK Cup in which the first leg will take place this Wednesday has been shortlisted to 22 players as follows:

Goalkeepers:

WAN Michael (HK U23), PONG Cheuk Hei (RCFC), TSE Ka Wing (Tai Po)

Defenders:

YIP Cheuk Man (Crownity North District), Leon JONES, WONG Tsz Ho (Eastern), TSANG Yi Hang Ellison (FC United of Manchester), CHOW Timothy Stephen (HKFC), LI Ngai Hoi (Lee Man)

Midfielders:

LAM Hin Ting (BC Rangers), MA Hei Wai, YU Jesse Joy Yin (Eastern), CHENG Chun Wang Ryan (HK U23), CHANG Hei Yin (Lee Man), CHAN Siu Kwan Philip (Tai Po)

Forwards:

LAM Jordan Lok Kan (Crownity North District), NG Yu Hei, SUN Ming Him, WONG Ho Chun Anson (Eastern), KHAN Jahangir (HKFC), Matthew Luke Slattery, POON Pui Hin (Kitchee)

The squad is mostly comprised of a mix of youth and experience. Several of these players were part of the squad that reached the semi-finals within last year's Asian Games football event with some having already represented the senior team at international level.

• Philip Chan Siu Kwan who notably scored against UAE during the group stage of the AFC Asian Cup finals makes the cut whilst the likes of Shinichi Chan, Oliver Gerbig and Stefan Pereira all miss out.
• Jahangir Khan who last represented the national team two years ago makes his return whilst there is a first call for Eastern's Leon Jones.
• Two young players Eastern's Ng Yu Hei and Kitchee's Matthew Slattery were also named in the final 22 man squad with having having already represented Hong Kong at various youth levels.

 

Here is the starting XI to face Guangdong in the first leg:

 

Some replacements announced for Hong Kong's second leg tie against Guangdong following their 2-0 goal advantage in the first leg.

Southern's Chan Hoi Pak will come in to the squad to replace Wong Tsz Ho who is ruled out after he sustained an injury. Sohgo Ichikawa (on loan at Southern) and Cheng Chin Lung of Kitchee have also been included whilst Yu Joy Yin is omitted and Mahama Awal and Lau Chi Lok will also come in for Sun Ming Him and Jahangir Khan.



In addition, a Hong Kong team that mostly comprised of league players from the Hong Kong Premier League will take on Inter Miami CF tomorrow.

 

A Hong Kong league based eleven could not overcome Inter Miami as they conceded four goals.

Robert Taylor opened the scoring for Inter Miami on the 40th minute before Henri Anier scored the equaliser 3 minutes later for Hong Kong. Goals from Lawson Sunderland, Leonardo Campana and Ryan Sailor sealed a win for Inter Miami against a rotated Hong Kong squad during the second half.

However, fans and spectators were left disappointed as World Cup winner and Argentinian international Lionel Messi did not feature throughout the match.

 

One question, why Hong Kong is going to host Uzbekistan in Mong Kok Stadium as they played against Turkmenistan in Hong Kong Stadium?