Hong Kong and Philippines met up for an
international friendly on Tuesday evening in the Mong Kok Stadium. Rain and
thunder did little to deter the home team and the home crowd. But it was the
visitors who came out on top as the courageous Hong Kong team fell short against
a spirited Philippines side, dropping the game by 0-1.
Philippines came
close to open the score on the 18th minute, when Stephen Schrock’s bouncing shot
seemed to have hand-cuffed Hong Kong goalkeeper Yapp Hung-fai. Fortunately for
the home side, Yapp managed to push the ball aside to safety.
Hong Kong
generated a splendid chance on the 24th minute when Cheung Kin-fung’s lovely
cross was met by Jaimes Mckee at the far-post. The local striker nodded the ball
towards goal from close-range but could not believe it when he just missed the
target.
The home side came tantalizingly close to getting on the
scoreboard. On the 29th minute, full-back Cheung Kin-fung whipped in another
dangerous into the Philippines box. Star striker Chan Siu-ki timed his jump
perfectly but headed a bouncing ball that just went over the cross-bar. Hong
Kong was starting to gather some much-needed momentum.
Philippines
netted the first goal of the game on the 33rd minute when Stephen Schrock
delivered a dangerous cross into the Hong Kong penalty area. A Hong Kong
defender managed to deflect the ball into the air, only for James Younghusband
to capitalize by heading the ball into the Hong Kong goal, putting the visitors
in front.
Hong Kong desperately tried to draw level and had a great
chance to do so on the 38th minute when Cheung Kin-fung’s teasing corner-kick
was headed just wide by captain Chan Wai-ho. The patriotic crowd was ferociously
cheering on the home side.
Hong Kong wasted little time in the 2nd half
to signal its intention. Shortly after the game resumed, Chan Siu-ki’s delicate
squeeze-pass picked out a surging Jaimes Mckee. Unfortunately, the pacy striker
failed to hit the target in a very tight angle.
On the 49th minute, Hong
Kong’s Chan Siu-ki received a nice, short pass from teammate Cheung Kin-fung
before curling a shot towards the Philippines goal. Unfortunately for the home
supporters, Chan’s shot was deflected off for a corner.
Philippines
almost doubled their lead on the 63rd minute when Philip Younghusband
intercepted a pass from a Hong Kong defender, before picking out Stephen Schrock
with a superb pass. Schrock attempted a cheeky chip-shot but the ball just
dropped inches above the cross-bar.
Hong Kong had a wonderful chance to
equalize on the 67th minute when Chan Siu-ki was brought down by a Filipino
defender inside the box. Chan dusted himself up and stepped up to take the
spot-kick. Unfortunately, the striker’s penalty-shot was heroically saved by
Philippines keeper Neil Etheridge. The visitors were still leading 0-1.
Philippines failed to expand their lead on the 79th minute when the ball
dropped for Juan Guirado inside the Hong Kong penalty area. The Filipino player
attempted an acrobatic bicycle-kick but failed to hit the target with his
effort.
Hong Kong had a great chance to tie the game on the 83rd minute
when Chan Man-fai’s corner-kick was headed towards the Philippines goal by Lee
Hong-lim. The ball was sailing towards the back of the net until Philippines
keeper Mike Etheridge pulled off a miraculous save to prevent the ball from
crossing the goal-line.
Lee Hong-lim excited the home crowd late in the
game when he sprung loose down the flank before delivering a fantastic cross
into the Philippines box. Teammate Chan Man-fai seized the opportunity and
headed the ball towards goal, only to witness his header gliding wide off the
goal.
Chan Siu-ki and Kwok Kin-pong both had glorious opportunity to tie
the game for Hong Kong in stoppage time. Unfortunately, both attempts were
brilliantly denied by the remarkable goalkeeping by Philippines custodian Neil
Etheridge.
The score stood still for the rest of the game, as Hong Kong
suffered a heart-breaking loss against Philippines by the score of 0-1.
source : Hong Kong FA website
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