Tue, 30 Nov, -0001
Hong Kong: Captain Chan Wai Ho headed home with three minutes remaining as unbeaten Hong Kong significantly improved their chances of securing a first AFC Asian Cup appearance since 1968 with a dramatic 1-0 win over Vietnam in Group E on Friday.
Kim Pan-gon’s side produced a frantic finish at Mong Kok Stadium to claim a first win of the campaign to qualify for Australia 2015 after Hong Kong, who are ranked 28th in Asia by FIFA, shared a goalless draw with 2011 AFC Asian Cup semi-finalists Uzbekistan in Tashkent last month.
Former AFC Asian Cup quarter-finalists Vietnam, meanwhile, suffered a second consecutive defeat after losing February’s opener 2-1 at home to Gulf Cup champions the United Arab Emirates despite being ranked 30 places above Hong Kong in the overall FIFA rankings and 16th in Asia.
“I am proud of the players and all the coaches. They tried their best to follow my instructions and I am really happy to see we played as a team. We did not always use our skill, but our strong mentality,” said Hong Kong coach Kim, who was re-appointed in November after working with the national academy following the departure of Ernie Merrick.
“We are in a good position in the group and we should try to make new history for Hong Kong football. We have seven months until our next game, and if we prepare well again, we can make another surprise.”
Hong Kong goalkeeper Yapp Hung Fai had to be on his toes after nine minutes to push a curling effort from Huynh Quoc Anh around the post as 2007 AFC Asian Cup quarter-finalists Vietnam made an attacking start.
The home side, though, found their way into the contest as the half progressed and visiting goalkeeper Tran Buu Ngoc had to push a similar strike from Hong Kong’s Jaimes McKee away to safety midway through the opening 45 minutes following patient build up from Kim’s side.
But Vietnam should have taken the lead six minutes before half-time as Nguyen Van Quyet’s inviting right wing cross found Quoc Anh unmarked on the edge of the six-yard area, but the midfielder failed to get under the ball and only managed to clear the crossbar.
The home side enjoyed the better of the chances at the start of a tight second half as Lee Chi Ho first fired a difficult angled strike into the side netting before the centre-back headed narrowly over from a corner just after the hour mark.
With Vietnam tiring as the half progressed Hong Kong enjoyed an increasing amount of possession and the home side’s best chance arrived with 14 minutes remaining as substitute Lee Hong Lim skipped past a challenge in the penalty area, but Buu Ngoc was quickly off his line and forced the midfielder to poke his effort wide of the post.
But the home side’s late pressure finally paid off with three minutes remaining as Chan rose highest to guide Cheung Kin Fung’s inswinging right wing free-kick into the top corner from the edge of a crowded six-yard area.
“We played better in the first half, especially in the first 20 minutes. We created three or four good chances, but our strikers were not able to take advantage. And after the injury to our captain, we could not keep possession as we had planned,” said Vietnam coach Hoang Van Phuc.
“The second half was balanced and I think we still had more possession, but we lost because of a late goal.”
Photo: AFP