Hong Kong skipper Yau Kin-wai can be forgiven for thinking he was in Hiroshima all over again after scoring an own goal that helped Vietnam salvage a 1-1 draw in yesterday's friendly at Hong Kong Stadium.
The defender's latest gaffe in the 72nd minute helped Vietnam come back from a goal down after forward Law Chun-pong had put the home side ahead with an amazing 26th minute goal in the sides' last warm-up game before the Asian Games in Pusan.
Yau gained notoriety at the 1994 Asian Games in Hiroshima when he let a simple shot roll through his legs, while trying to clear with his head during Hong Kong's 2-1 loss to Saudi Arabia. And Yau blotched his otherwise fine record yet again by undoing all his team's good work.
Vietnamese midfielder Phan Van Tai Em first drilled in a ferocious shot that was kept out by Hong Kong goalkeeper Fan Chun-yip. Phan then knocked in the loose ball with a right-wing cross right that struck Yau's leg at the far post and Yau was aghast to see the shot end up at the back of his own net.
Hong Kong had taken a 1-0 first-half lead when Law's looping 15-yard shot lobbed over the head of advancing Vietnamese goalkeeper Nguyen The Anh.
Vietnam finished the stronger of the two teams as Hong Kong goalkeeper Fan was kept busy, pulling off a series of breathtaking saves.