Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Ulaanbaatar: Hong Kong will go head-to-head with Japan on Sunday for a ticket to the AFC U-16 Championship 2016 after defeating hosts Mongolia 5-2 in the penultimate fixture in three-team qualifying Group K on Friday.
Mongolia, whose chances of a place in next year’s finals in India all but ended with a 17-0 loss to Japan on the opening day, fell behind to a fourth minute penalty from Jason Linux Cheung before Erik Anders Wihlborn added to the Hong Kong skipper’s early spot kick with the East Asians’ second two minutes into first-half stoppage time.
Chan Ka Shing, who came on at the start of the second half as Hong Kong’s Spanish coach Xavi Bravo made a double substitution with forward Chan and midfielder Luk Ho Hin on for Wong Wai Leong and Titus Poon King Chi respectively, made it 3-0 in the 63rd minute before Mongolia pulled one back five minutes later through defender Khosbayar Bayarkhuu.
Ethan Yueng Yat Yung restored Hong Kong’s three-goal advantage in the 76th minute which the forward then extended by scoring his second nine minutes later before Mongolia’s campaign ended with Bat-Erdene Erdenchimeg netting a last-minute consolation for the home side.
The victory saw Hong Kong join Japan on three points and needing to take all three points from Sunday’s decider with the young Samurai Blue holding a vastly superior goal difference.
Ten group winners and four best second-placed teams will join DPR Korea, who topped the already concluded Group H, and India in next year’s finals, with the tournament hosts receiving an automatic qualification.
Should India finish top of their qualifying group or among the four best second-placed teams, the fifth best second-placed nation will qualify for the final competition.