Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Pyongyang: DPR Korea secured their place at a third successive AFC Asian Cup Finals on Tuesday as departing coach Jorn Andersen led his side to a 2-0 win over Hong Kong at Kim Il Sung Stadium to book the country’s tickets for next year’s Finals in the United Arab Emirates.
Needing just a point to guarantee their progress to next January’s finals, first half goals from Jong Il-gwan and Pak Kwang-ryong sent DPR Korea on their way to collecting all three points and ending Hong Kong’s hopes in the process.
Hong Kong needed to win to qualify for the Finals for the first time since 1968, but the visitors’ hopes were hit early by the loss of defender Helio Goncalves, who was replaced just 11 minutes into the game by Tong Kin-man after sustaining a knee injury.