2023 Asian Cup qualifiers: Hong Kong get off to perfect start with comfortable win over Afghanistan
- Wong Wai and Matthew Orr score twice in space of four first-half minutes to put their side on road to victory
- Afghanistan skipper Farshad Noor grabs late consolation after Hong Kong fail to clear corner
Hong Kong cast aside Jorn Andersen’s prematch concerns to make a winning start to their Asian Cup qualifying campaign in Kolkata on Wednesday evening with a 2-1 victory over Group D rivals Afghanistan.
Two goals in four first-half minutes from Wong Wai and Matt Orr sent Hong Kong on their way to the win in hot conditions at the cavernous Salt Lake Stadium, as Andersen’s team overcame the absence of a host of key players to take all three points.
Only the winners of the group, which also features India and Cambodia, are sure to advance to the finals next year, where they will be joined by the five best runners-up from the six qualification groups being played across the continent.
Hong Kong have not qualified for the Asian Cup since 1968 and the Norwegian had voiced his frustration at not being able to secure his China-based players for the qualifiers, tempering expectations as a result.
But there were to be few concerns despite the selection of an inexperienced side, that had a total of 158 caps between them when the starting line-up was announced.
Andersen preferred Wang Zhenpeng ahead of veteran Yapp Hung-fai in goal in an inexperienced line-up that featured eight players with 10 caps or fewer with one, Kitchee’s Sean Tse Ka-keung, making his debut at the heart of the defence.
It was Tse who threatened first for Hong Kong, directing Wong Wai’s corner towards the far post wide of the target as Andersen’s side made an encouraging start, with Sun Ming-him lively down the left.