Hong Kong football fans wait 4 years to see their national team score a goal at home – then get 10 in rout of Brunei
- Newly naturalised forward duo bring cutting edge, with Everton Camargo netting twice and Michael Udebuluzor hitting bar twice on debut
- The team’s previous strikes at Hong Kong Stadium had been in 2019; since then, their fans had not seen them score a goal of their own at home
Hong Kong went from drought to deluge in a 10-0 rout of Brunei on Monday, as their supporters’ thirst for goals was finally sated.
The home fans were so jubilant at what they witnessed at Hong Kong Stadium that the red horde launched into a “Poznan” celebration – often associated with Manchester City – before half-time in a one-sided encounter.
Comparisons with European champions City would be outlandish, though, and if coach Jorn Andersen were to be picky, he would question why his side did not score more.
“We want 10,” the faithful screamed during the second-half – and Hong Kong obliged, albeit after spurning chances to get there sooner.
Those supporters had not seen a Hong Kong player score since Roberto Affonso Junior netted against Cambodia in November 2019. A 2-0 victory over Myanmar 12 months ago happened behind closed doors, while Singapore donated an own goal in March.
Now, they have Everton Camargo. On early evidence a fans’ favourite in the making, he scored after only 12 minutes. By the end, Andersen’s team had more than twice as many goals in one night as they had mustered in their previous 11 matches combined.
Tan Chun-lok lashed in the second and the third was glanced home by captain Helio, scoring his first international goal on his 31st appearance, six minutes before half-time.
Fernando joined fellow Brazil-born colleagues Camargo and Helio on the scoresheet with a rasping 49th-minute finish. Wong Wai converted from close range and Camargo sent a 59th-minute shot screaming into the far corner with his last touch before making way to a loud ovation.
Philip Chan Siu-kwan then hit a quick-fire double and substitute Poon Pui-hin duly repeated that feat.
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Andersen had hand-picked Brunei, 190th in Fifa’s rankings, as opponents with a view to preparing for next month’s World Cup tie with 185th-ranked and similarly defence-minded Bhutan.
His suspicion that the minnows would operate on the back foot was correct, although he probably did not bank on Brunei being so wretched. The players massed behind the ball offered flimsy resistance, and the outstanding player was goalkeeper Haimie Nyaring, who made a host of very good saves and was let down by glacial reactions by his defenders.
Michael Udebuluzor will wonder how he did not manage a debut goal. But the teenager, who received his Hong Kong passport last week, was a constant menace and twice struck the woodwork.
Camargo terrorised poor Abdul Mu’iz Sisa, the Brunei left-back, who was markedly inferior in speed, power and wit on a night he will wish to hurriedly forget.
Tan’s goal, a shot arrowed home from 20 yards, was his first at international level in four years, and came after 19 minutes played almost exclusively in the visitors’ half.
A few complacent moments had Andersen’s face briefly turning a colour in sharp contrast to his gleaming white trainers.
Helio was fortunate to win a free-kick after losing possession in a dangerous position, then Leung Nok-hang recovered from having his pocket picked by Ismail Nazirruding Haji.
After several moments of panic at the back, normal service resumed when Helio angled in a header from Wong Wai’s left-wing corner.
Fernando galloped on to Udebuluzor’s low delivery to thrash high into the net, before Camargo again, Wong, Chan and Poon all joined the party.
The ultras jumped for joy, and Hong Kong’s formerly shot-shy players will hope that this goal feast will give them a bounce, too.
