Hong Kong's World Cup squad are returning to the SAR beaten and bruised after failing to secure a quarter-final berth at the Millennium Cup in Goa, India, last night. Needing to beat Jordan by at least two goals to go through to the knockout stages, Hong Kong - missing several experienced defenders due to injury - suffered a 2-0 reversal instead and recorded their second successive defeat in Group Three. Hong Kong lost 4-2 to a Romanian 'B' side last week.
Hong Kong coach Arie van der Zouwen was disappointed with the result but pleased the SAR had put up a good fight under difficult circumstances. Hong Kong were forced to field four attackers and just three defenders in a 3-3-4 formation as Van der Zouwen was given no choice but to go for a comprehensive win.
'We didn't have many options and I can only say that we worked very hard. But it was not enough. We gave away no chances in the first half but at the same time, we didn't create chances for ourselves,' said Van der Zouwen. 'The game was lost in two key moments. Just like against Romania, we conceded our first goal from a corner. Our defenders suffered a lapse of concentration. They just stood still, expecting an offside.'
Jordan went ahead in the 49th minute from a corner and added a second when the Jordanians intercepted the ball from midfield and scored in a counter-attack.
Jordan, who beat Romania 1-0 in injury time last week, and Romania both advanced to the quarter-finals of a tournament that has been plagued by late withdrawals.
Van der Zouwen said he did not know when Hong Kong would play again in their build-up to World Cup qualifiers that begin in March. 'It is up to the Football Association to decide what other matches we will be playing.'