Tai Po kicked off their AFC Champions League 2 campaign with a win with goals from Gabriel Cividini and Michel Renner to give them their first three points against Australian side Macarthur FC.
Kitchee managed to stun Lee Man with Kendy, Yumemi Kanda and Adrian Revilla made it on the scoresheet. Lee Man did however pull two goals back with Willian Gaucho and a Law Tsz Chun own goal. The result not only gives Kitchee the all important three points, but it also ends their losing streak against Lee Man in over three years. In form Rangers continue their winning streak as they sealed a victory against North District. The win puts them joint top with Kitchee. League strugglers Hong Kong Football Club's search for their first points continues as HKPL newcomers Eastern District scored three past them to give them their first win of the season. After securing their first win in the AFC Champions League 2 campaign, champions Tai Po managed to scrape past Kowloon City in rather poor pitch conditions. Both Southern and Eastern shared points with goals from Stefan Pereira and a Marcos Gondra free kick within a very water-logged pitch which I question whether the match should had went ahead.
Having looked up the Bangladesh squad, Hamza Choudhury of English Championship side Leicester was named in the preliminary squad. I think he will be someone that I am sure that Ashley Westwood and the players should be aware of his presence and his capabilities should he be named in the final squad (although it will certainly take more than Hamza to make a difference.) The away tie is going to be tricky considering the last time the national team had played Bangladesh away was back in the 2007 AFC Asian Cup qualifiers where they managed to get a win with Chan Siu Ki scoring the only goal. I just hope that Westwood and the players can get the all important result (both home and away.)
Bangladesh national team have already started training together in preparation for the Hong Kong match. See: https://www.facebook.com/bff.football
https://www.thestandard.com.hk/foot...Bangladesh-Asian-Cup-clash-gone-in-90-minutes Kai Tak set for full house as tickets for HK-Bangladesh Asian Cup clash gone in 90 minutes Up to 42,570 fans witnessed Hong Kong team’s 1-0 victory in their Group C matchup against India in the qualifiers for the 2027 AFC Asian Cup finals in Saudi Arabia. A full and passionate crowd is expected at the Kai Tak Stadium on October 14, as the Hong Kong football team prepares for its highly-anticipated Asian Cup qualifier against Bangladesh. The match is set to be a major event, with all general admission tickets selling out in approximately an hour and a half following their release to the public. Tickets for the crucial qualifier went on sale online at 11am on Thursday under a real-name registration system, with prices starting from HK$80. Demand was immense from the very start. Our reporter attempting to purchase tickets found over 23,000 people already in a virtual queue just half an hour after sales began, facing an estimated waiting time of more than an hour. By 12.35pm, the initial rush had concluded, with the official ticketing website displaying that all standard-priced tickets had been completely sold out. A limited number of tickets for wheelchair users and their companions were still available. The upcoming match marks the senior team's second fixture at the new Kai Tak pitch. Their debut in June was a historic and memorable occasion, where 42,570 fans witnessed Stephan Pereira score a last-gasp penalty to secure a dramatic victory over India. After their away trip to Dhaka, the team's return to what promises to be another electrifying home atmosphere has generated significant excitement among the city's football supporters. ============================================================= Gone in 90 minutes... A lot of fans were unhappy with the new ticketing system. Some claimed they paid already but did not receive tickets. Also please do not entertain ticket touts. There is a claim that the ticket owner is able to change the name of the ticket holder whenever he/she likes. So he could change your name to another name even after he sells you the ticket.
Final 25-man squad named. Yue Tsz Nam and Sun Ming Him both returned to the team whilst Ng Yu Hei, Michael Udebuluzor, Ma Hei Wai have missed out.
Shocking that Aleks is anywhere near the squad, let alone being picked without a team. He is the Paul Ngue of goalkeepers. Also, Michael U hasn't featured since the "incident" - hope he won't be iced out for too long...
I just don't know if there is any point in calling up Aleks considering that like you said has yet to find a new club. Speaking of Michael Udebuluzor, he has scored for his new club recently even though they lost. Surprised he wasn't named for the Bangladesh ties (unless Westwood wants him to focus on getting first team opportunities and work on his form at his new club) and would had him in place of Manuel Bleda. But hopefully he and maybe a few fresh additions will be named for the November tie against Singapore at home. Adding to that Yue Tsz Nam, Raphael Merkies plus Ma Hei Wai scored for their clubs as well.
Westwood wants Michael U to focus on getting 1st team opportunities at his new club.... while he picks Aleks who doesn't even have a club... Oriental Daily reports that Aleks claims to have offers but he rejected them all due to unsatisfactory conditions, i.e. pay is too low. He is currently training with HKFC, but that only started last week. Yapp Hung-Fai and Tse Ka-Wing please stay healthy and fit. I really hope HKNT will not need to use its third keeper.
The fact that any organization would pay any amount of money for Aleks' services is truly baffling. Same goes for Paulo. I would much much much rather have Ng or Pong as 3rd keeper. Heck, give me Ngan Ngo Tin over Aleks.
Singapore could only gain a draw in their recent tie against India. The ball is currently in Hong Kong's court and could top the table if they can get a result against Bangladesh. Hopefully the boys can get the result.
Wow! Even though there were errors made from both sides, the match was full of drama as Ashley Westwood's side took all of the three points within the dying minutes in Dhaka as Everton Camargo and substitute hero Raphael Merkies' hat trick sealed the game. The win now currently takes Hong Kong top of their group as they will face Bangladesh in their home turf on Tuesday, hoping to win the return tie. Other than that, I do hope Yapp Hung Fai is OK and I do hope his injury is not too serious.
Goalkeeper Yapp Hung-Fai is injured and will not play against Bangladesh on Tuesday. Tse Ka-Wing will have to start. I hope Tse stays fit and healthy and we won't need to use Aleks.
https://www.facebook.com/plugins/vi...91236116208447/&show_text=false&width=560&t=0 Bangladesh vs Hong Kong match highlights.
That is not a good sign for Yapp Hung Fai and Tse Ka Wing is very likely to deputise in place for him. Aleks would be way too much of a risk to field and I don't see him likely to feature for the home tie.
Very sadly, Yapp has suffered an ACL injury. He will be out of action for a while. I really hope Tse deputizes. The good thing about being in HK is that the team can now call up some other options as back up, such as Ng Wai Him.
Could see either Ng Wai Him (most likely), Chan Ka Ho or Yip Ka Yiu being considered as optional back-ups.
Well well well. Kim Shin Wook who last featured for Kitchee two years ago scored one of the three goals against BC Rangers in the League Cup. However, Kim confirmed that he will be retiring once his contract with Kitchee expires next year.
KC Southern District goalkeeper Ng Wai-Him has been selected by Ashley Westwood to take the 3rd keeper place in the HKNT to face Bangladesh on 14 Oct.
Excellent news and good for him to gain exposure. I fear that Yapp may be finished. He will be 36 and possibly 37 by the time he returns to peak fitness... will he still be able to hold the #1 spot from Tse in 1-2 years time?
Yapp is one of the most internationally capped players and it will depend on how long it will take him to recover from his injury (which will take quite a while.) Could see them use Tse for tomorrow's home fixture as well as the final two ties. But I will say that there are a couple of young goalkeepers coming up to the ranks in which Ng Wai Him (who I could possibly see him being a potential transfer target for other HKPL clubs), Pong Cheuk Hei (hopefully he will recover from his injury), Ngan Ngo Tin and Chung Hoi Man as candidates that can be worked upon. Other than that, tomorrow is going to be another big match for Ashley Westwood and his national team as they know that another win at home against Bangladesh will take them one step further to qualification. Should either Singapore or India fail to get their results tomorrow, then I think the odds could be in their favour. I just hope that Ashley Westwood and the national team worked and tighten more on their defense and marking in tomorrow's tie.
Here is the starting XI to face Bangladesh: GK: Tse Ka Wing DF: Oliver Gerbig, Leon Jones, Yue Tsz Nam, Shinichi Chan MF: Juninho, Ngan Cheuk Pan, Everton Camargo, Fernando FW: Matt Orr, Lau Ka Kiu As expected, Tse Ka Wing has been named in place of the injured Yapp Hung Fai. Fernando makes a return to starting eleven having missed out on the away tie as does Sun Ming Him who is named in the substitutes bench and Lee Man's Kyle Lau Ka Kiu wins his first start. Hat trick hero Raphael Merkies also starts on the bench in which I think he is going to be their secret weapon. I wish Ashley Westwood and the boys good luck and hopefully the results will go their way.
Full Time: Hong Kong Vs Bangladesh - 1:1 Ashley Westwood's side could only secure a draw side had to settle with a point a piece. Matt Orr gave the home side the lead during the first half. However, the momentum shifted in the second half in which Oliver Gerbig got a red card and Bangladesh pounced late for the equaliser. I really do not know what happened during the second half as it felt like the players seemingly ran out of steam in which Bangladesh had much more possession of the ball and it would had been a much wiser move to substitute Gerbig off and send either Dudu or Nunez in place knowing that he was already on a yellow card. Will also add that there were a couple of questionable decisions made by the referee as well. The side will have to get a win against Singapore at home next month to keep their chances of qualification alive.
Well Singapore are now equal on points with Hong Kong in their group after defeating India away. Ashley Westwood's side will now have to win their two remaining games in order to stand a chance of qualifying.