Hong Kong will be ready for UAE, says coach Kim Pan-gon
His team have scored just one goal from two friendly internationals before the AFC Asian Cup 2015 qualifiers resume next month, but coach Kim Pan-gon insists Hong Kong can rediscover their attacking touch before the crucial home tie against the United Arab Emirates.
His team have scored just one goal from two friendly internationals before the AFC Asian Cup 2015 qualifiers resume next month, but coach Kim Pan-gon insists Hong Kong can rediscover their attacking touch before the crucial home tie against the United Arab Emirates.
Hong Kong scraped to a 1-0 win over Singapore on Monday night at Mong Kok Stadium with Pegasus midfielder Bai He scoring from a goalmouth melee. Last week the squad were held to a scoreless draw in Myanmar.
"It is still early in the season and the players are still to reach their peak form and fitness. I think it was this lack of fitness which let us down in these two games up-front and I'm sure that match-fitness will get better," Kim said. "While we could certainly improve on our finishing up-front, I'm very happy with the way our defensive unit has played. I wanted us to be disciplined defensively and … I'm satisfied."
The Hong Kong Football Association had arranged the two friendly matches against teams ranked lower than Hong Kong so the squad could gain a measure of confidence before the October 15 match against UAE.
Before the games, HKFA chief executive Mark Sutcliffe stated: "Winning is a habit and if we get positive results against Myanmar and Singapore it will generate momentum to carry forward into the Asian Cup qualifiers."
While we could certainly improve on our finishing up-front, I'm very happy with the way our defensive unit has played. I wanted us to be disciplined defensively
Hong Kong are trying to qualify for the Asian Cup finals for the first time since 1968. A draw away to Uzbekistan and a home win over Vietnam has put them in a sound position in the qualifying group, second on four points behind favourites UAE (6) with four games to play. The top two from each of the five groups qualify for the finals in Australia in 2015.
