Hong Kong beat Myanmar 2-0 in first home match since start of coronavirus pandemic

Two goals in a minute gave Hong Kong a comfortable 2-0 win over Myanmar at Mongkok Stadium on Wednesday evening, as the city’s team made a long-awaited return to home soil for the first time in almost three years.

Sun Ming-him and Law Tsz-chun headed the ball beyond Kyaw Zin Phyo within 60 seconds of each other in the final 10 minutes of the first half to ensure a straightforward evening in a closed-doors international friendly that marked the team’s first game in the city since November 2019.

Much has changed for Hong Kong in the 1,037 days since their last performance in the city, a 2-0 win over Cambodia that marked the only success of Mixu Paatelainen’s underwhelming 12-game stint in charge.

Current coach Jorn Andersen – who was appointed late last year – has changed the mood in his short time in charge, securing qualification for the Asian Cup finals with wins over Afghanistan and Cambodia in India earlier in the year by utilising a more intensive approach than his predecessor.

Just as was the case during those qualifiers in June, Andersen was deprived the services of his growing band of mainland-based players on Wednesday evening because of China’s domestic leagues continuing to play throughout the current Fifa international window.