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SCMP Sport

This story has been made freely available to our readers as part of our Asian Games coverage. Please consider supporting SCMP’s journalism by subscribing.
It’s been a historic day for Hong Kong, which has ensured its biggest ever medal tally at an Asian Games, overtaking their haul of 46 from Jakarta five years ago.
The city is now up to 49 medals in Hangzhou, thanks to cyclist Yang Qianyu’s surprise gold medal in the women’s road race, and three bronze medals in the squash on Wednesday.
There will not be an eighth gold – yet – of these Games, however, as Jorn Andersen’s men’s football side were thrashed 4-0 by Japan in their semi-final.
They will fight for the bronze medal on Saturday, against the loser of Uzbekistan and South Korea, who played later on Wednesday night.
Here’s how all the action unfolded.
Reporting by Paul McNamara, Tom Bell, Kathryn Giordano, Joshua Ball and Nicolas Atkin.


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Asian Games 2023

Asian Games 2023: Hong Kong’s footballers put to the sword by Japan in chastening semi-final loss – as it happened

Japan’s Seiya Baba and Hong Kong’s Mathew Orr compete for the ball in their men’s football semifinal at the Asian Games. Photo: AFP

Sport

Football

Hong Kong

It was a historic day for Hong Kong, whose athletes overtook the city’s biggest ever medal tally at an Asian Games
But Jorn Andersen’s men’s football side are left to fight for bronze after a 4-0 thrashing by Japan on Wednesday evening


The city has ensured its biggest ever medal haul at an Asian Games, but Jorn Andersen’s men’s football side are left to fight for bronze.


The Football Association of Hong Kong, China

Live

Welcome back to the Post’s live coverage of the 2023 Asian Games in Hangzhou.
It’s been a historic day for Hong Kong already – and it could get much, much better tonight.
The men’s football side, fresh off their famous win over Iran, take on heavyweights Japan at 6pm.
Follow along here for team news, live updates, reaction, and more.


Here we go

Hangzhou is now Hong Kong’s most successful Asian Games by total medals won, but what about golds? The city won eight of those in Jakarta in 2018, and are now just one short of that here.
Could one of the city’s squash stars have the honour of matching it? That will become clearer tonight.
Or can Jorn Andersen’s men’s football side shock Japan? If so, they will have a chance of gold this weekend.


Gold standard

The team news is in, and there’s one big change as expected.
No place for Poon Pui-hin, the Hong Kong hero from the quarter-finals win against Iran, who is suspended after picking up two yellow cards.
Hong Kong: Tse Ka-wing; Alexander Jojo, Li Ngai-hoi, Ellison Tsang Yi-hang, Sun Ming-him; Jordan Lam Lok-kan, Anson Wong Ho-chun, Jesse Yu Joy-yin; Chang Hei-yin, Matthew Orr.
Substitutes: Ng Wai-him (GK), Paco Chan Hoi-pak, Yip Cheuk-man, Stephen Chow, Lau Ka-kiu, Lam Hin-ting, Pong Cheuk-hei, Sohgo Ichikawa, Ryan Cheng Chun-wang


Hong Kong team news

The teams are warming up, and the crowd is slowly starting to trickle in.
Both of Japan’s goal scorers from the quarter-final against North Korea, Yuta Matsumura and Kotaro Uchino start on the bench. Yota Komi will lead the attack in front of what looks like a five-man midfield.
Japan: Kazuki Fajita; Seiya Baba, Ibuki Konno, Kenat Nemoto, Hiroki Sekine; Yota Komi, Teppei Yachida, Kakeru Yamauchi, Shota Hino, Kohshiro Sumi; Shun Ayukawa.
Substitutes: Yuma Obata (GK), Hayato Okuda, Manato Yoshida, Taichi Yamasaki, Daiti Matsuoka, Masato Shigemi, Jun Nishikawa, Yuta Matsumura, Kein Sato, Kotaro Uchino.



Japan team news

Just to emphasise the rarefied air that Hong Kong are breathing this evening, the city’s men have never reached the last four at an Asian Games.
The closest they’ve ever come was the quarterfinals in 1958, when they lost to India.


Rarefied air

Hong Kong go into this game having kept two clean sheets in their last two matches, and with a back four that has got a seriously stingy look about it.
Central defensive duo Li Ngai-hoi and Ellison Tsang have been a revelation, as has been the seriously impressive Tse Ka-wing in goal.
He would have missed the Games through suspension if Covid hadn’t intervened, make of that what you will.
Twenty minutes before kick-off and the teams are finishing their warm-ups and heading back to the dressing rooms. It’s almost go time.


A stingy defence

Hong Kong have regularly been attracting 8,000 fans to their games.
But the stadium is going to have to do some filling up soon for that to happen again tonight.



Sparse crowd

Two groups of volunteers walk the flags onto the pitch, the teams are out and waiting for the national anthems.
It’s a rousing rendition of March of the Volunteers. Unsurprisingly, not a lot of respect is being shown for the Japanese anthem.
Hong Kong have a very, very big 90 minutes ahead of them.



National anthems

Hong Kong on the back foot from kick-off, with the Japanese movement and speed of pass causing problems.
A cross from the right troubles Hong Kong but Alex Jojo completes a clearance.



On the back foot

Hong Kong boss Jorn Andersen is being quite restrained this evening, nearly three minutes in and he has yet to emerge from his seat in the dugout.
Normally he’s patrolling that technical area like some barely caged tiger. All blond hair and menace.


Restrained from Jorn

A reminder of how we got here: Hong Kong set up this Japan clash by stunning Iran 1-0 on Sunday through Poon Pui-hin’s goal.
It’s their first ever Games semi-final, and they’ve been trying since 1954.
Iran’s senior side are ranked 21st in the world and have graced successive World Cups, so they’re quite a scalp for 148th-ranked Hong Kong.
Only one Asian national team sit above Iran, according to Fifa... 19th-ranked Japan.



Size of the task

At the other end, Matt Orr briefly scents an opportunity following an under hit back pass but goalkeeper Kazuki Fujita races out to clear.
Andersen’s team are gaining a foothold and Chang Hei-yin sends a 20-yard effort whistling wide.
Tit-for-tat from Japan who try their luck from distance but the attempt is high, wide and not-so handsome.


Gaining a foothold

Andersen watch: there he is.
Our first sign of the big Norwegian after 8 minutes. He’s cajoling his players as Japan settle into an attacking rhythm.
Hong Kong’s manager has made no bones about the fact that his side are not the most technically gifted team in the tournament, but they are well drilled, and the defence knows its role.


Showing some steel

Whatever unfolds at XSC Stadium in tonight’s football, another medal is on the way for Hong Kong in squash.
So if you’re up for double-screening, Henry Leung Chi-hin is just starting his men’s singles semi-final against India’s Saurav Ghosal.
Already today, Hong Kong’s Lee Ka-yi and Wong Chi-him have earned mixed doubles bronze. And Chan Sin-yuk guaranteed at least a silver by winning her all-Hong Kong women’s singles semi-final against Tomato Ho Tze-lok – meaning it’s bronze for Ho, too.


2 screen affair

Hong Kong are characteristically industrious. Jesse Yu Joy-yin is leading the way, pressing and chasing in the middle of the field.
A sequence of throw-ins on Hong Kong’s right then gives us an indication of just how Andersen’s team plan to “manage” the games.
Let’s just say, right-back Jojo isn’t breaking his neck to get the ball back in play.


Slow it down

There’s something delightfully retro about Hong Kong. Long throws into the box, no-nonsense defending, it’s like watching, er, Stoke in the Rory Delap era.
Captain Wu Chung-ming’s searching throw-ins from the right are panicking the Japanese backline.
They are typically scrambling the ball barely 30 yards from their own goal. Hong Kong have, so far, lacked the composure to take advantage.



Delap in disguise

Hong Kong 0-0 Japan
That was better from Chang Hei-yin, however, sliding infield and bending a right foot strike that forces Fujita into his first save with 14 minutes gone.
This is pretty breathless stuff. Japan go raiding forwards and Li Ngai-hoi, one of the stars of the tournament, has to bundle the ball behind.
Hong Kong comfortably deal with the corner. The excellent Hoi is then perfectly placed to intervene at the front post after Japan progress from one end of the field to the other with a fluid sequence of passes.


Forcing a save

With 18 minutes gone, there’s a heart-stopping moment for Hong Kong.
The net ripples after Shota Hino takes aim – but the shot hit the outside of Tse Ka-wing’s right post.
Japan have relocated their passing fluency, popping the ball around deep into Hong Kong territory. Andersen’s players are working furiously to close gaps and prevent crosses.
Hong Kong 0-0 Japan



A close shave

Japan open the scoring in the 23rd minute, and it was a mess from a Hong Kong perspective.
They have been immaculate defensively in this competition – and Sun Ming-him, the forward operating at left-back, has been one of the stars of the show.
But Sun hacks at a clearance as Shota Hino whips a free-kick into the box, presenting possession to Shun Ayukawa in front of goal. Tse has no chance with the forward’s clinical finish.
That’s the first goal Hong Kong have conceded in the first half of a match at this Asian Games.
Hong Kong 0-1 Japan


Goal for Japan

With 27 minutes gone, Ayukawa’s eyes briefly light up as a ball over the top gives the striker an apparently clear run at goal.
But Ellison Tsang is alert to the danger and speeds across to slam the door in the goalscorer’s face.
Hong Kong are becoming slightly stretched. A pass beyond their midfield opens up the pitch for Japan and ultimately results in Tse holding onto a hard-hit shot.


Hong Kong stretched

Now this is interesting. Free-kick around 22 yards out for Hong Kong after a Japanese handball, on the half-hour mark.
Orr and Chang share a long conversation and it’s safe to say the plan wasn’t for Orr to dump the dead ball into the wall – but that’s what he did.
In the ensuing scramble, Hong Kong pin Japan back, forcing a rushed clearance, before Wu Chun-ming fires high from distance.
Hong Kong 0-1 Japan


Scramble ensues

Fujita is either the coolest man in the stadium, or a very good actor.
Japan’s goalkeeper looked utterly unperturbed as he passed from his goalline, with Wong millimetres from stealing possession.
Back to the day job for Fujita, who clutches a header on goal. It’s a straightforward stop and Hong Kong are yet to truly test the Japanese No 1.



Keeping it cool

Hong Kong have shown plenty of character since falling behind.
They’ve had the better of the contest over the past 10 minutes and are playing with purpose and intent.
But the required quality at the top end of the field is missing. Another speedy passing move spins Japanese heads and bodies and creates room for Jordan Lam Lok-kan to shoot but he is in a hurry and skies the attempt.
37’, Hong Kong 0-1 Japan



Plenty of steel

That is Hong Kong’s best chance. Li, stellar at the back, is upfield for a free-kick and gets in front of his man to meet Wong’s flighted delivery.
But the centre-half can’t get over the ball and misses the target with his header.
Back come Japan and Tse is sharply down to his left to turn around a left-foot strike from Teppei Tachida. The corner falls for Kenta Nemoto but he is off balance and screws the shot wide.


Chance goes begging

Chang gives Japan captain Seiya Baba a needless shove as the pair embark on a fool’s errand and chase Sun’s overhit pass down the left.
Every chance to push was an act of retribution for a pretty ugly Baba tackle earlier in the game.
It’s getting a bit spicy now and Wong goes into the book for a foul in midfield.
43’, Hong Kong 0-1 Japan


A bit of payback

Hino is beginning to find space behind Hong Kong’s midfield, in turn allowing him a more direct line to his forwards.
The left-midfielder tries to ease a pass through for Ayukawa but the excellent Jojo dashes across to intervene.


Finding the gaps

Only two added minutes, which is about right. This is being played at some pace, and with very few stoppages.
And there is the half-time whistle. Both teams will be grateful for the breather.
But Japan are the happier of the two sides, one goal to the good and 45 minutes from the Asian Games final, with 21-year-old Shun Ayukawa’s 24th-minute strike currently the difference between two evenly-matched teams.
HT: Hong Kong 0-1 Japan


Behind at the break

So, what will Jorn Andersen say to his players at half time?
They haven’t been bad, but he was right when he said Japan were one the best teams in the tournament.
Their speed and movement has left Hong Kong chasing shadows at times, and skipper Anson Wong has covered some ground in midfield.
Still, a defensive howler aside, it hasn’t been that bad for his team. Now, if they could just create something up front.



Stick or twist?

If you thought half-time was going to bring some respite from the chaos of the first 45 minutes, no such luck.
There is a guy with a microphone doing the rounds of the crowd and randomly getting them to cheer for Hong Kong.
He hasn’t asked any questions yet, he’s just talking. And no, we’ve no idea what he’s saying, but he seems very enthusiastic.


Not the time

Mercifully, the players have returned and Hong Kong’s form a huddle, with the impressive Tse delivering the motivational sermon.
The second half is under way, and Jorn Andersen’s men need a big 45 minutes here.
46’ Hong Kong 0-1 Japan


Back under way

Hong Kong could do with getting a handle on Hino, who is consistently drifting off markers to collect possession in space.
And right on cue, the impish winger gathers the ball on the left and arcs over a cross just out of reach of Ayukawa, who was being closely monitored by Li Ngai-hoi.
Then some desperate Hong Kong defending prevents Japan from doubling their lead. Sun makes the tackle in the box – but it was too easy for Japan to make tracks down the Hong Kong left.



Frantic re-start

For those not double-screening, we have news from tonight’s other semi-final involving Hong Kong, in squash’s men’s singles.
And there’s no easy way to say this, Hong Kong fans, but the scoreline has not gone your guy’s way.
Henry Leung Chi-hin has been blown away by Saurav Ghosal of India, who wins it 11-2, 11-1, 11-6. Remember though, that’s still Hong Kong’s third squash bronze of the day.


And in Hong Kong’s other semi

One-way traffic at the moment and the flawless Li is on-hand to head clear Hino’s latest menacing left-wing delivery.
You feel this is Hong Kong’s Asian Games, right here. They have their backs to the wall, resisting wave after wave of Japanese pressure.
A two-goal deficit is likely to be beyond the reach of a team that hasn’t scored more than one goal in any of their four previous games in Hangzhou.
52’, Hong Kong 0-1 Japan


All hands on deck

Japan go 2-0 up after 54 minutes.
We mentioned Hino’s creative influence, but it is the winger who has doubled Japan’s lead, and perhaps banished Hong Kong’s hopes of a first Asian Games final.
Tse does well in the first instance, beating out a firm cross-shot from the right. But Hino beats Jojo to the rebound and heads into an empty net.



Hong Kong 0-2 Japan

Hong Kong are caught between the devil and the deep blue sea.
They need two goals in the next half hour, but are committing too many men in their forays forward.
Japan, with their speedy attackers, are perfectly equipped to exploit space and tired legs.
That said, chances to escape their own half are few and far between at the moment. Japan have just had a sequence of corners, the latest creating an opening that was steered wide.



Tired legs

Japan have made a change.
That’s all she wrote for Teppei Yachida, who is replaced by Masato Shegemi in midfield with little more than an hour gone.
Double change for Hong Kong. Off come Anson Wong and Chang Hei-yin, on go Lam Hin-ting and Sohgo Ichikawa.


First changes

Half a chance for Hong Kong.
Jesse Yu darts down the right and hooks over a delivery, Orr and Wong are both in the box but neither can make contact.
Japan are taking their time over the restart, which might grow into a theme of the closing half hour.
63’, Hong Kong 0-2 Japan


Glimmer of hope

The fresh legs are needed. Hong Kong are finding the going tough against their elusive opponents.
Little wonder after the herculean efforts invested in overcoming Palestine and Iran to reach this stage.
And there is the embodiment of the fatigue creeping into Hong Kong’s football. After being nutmegged on the left side of his own box, Lam doesn’t have the legs to pursue Kohshiro Sumi, so takes the yellow card for dragging down the attacker.
The free-kick is cleared to safety and Hong Kong’s chances, although dwindling, aren’t extinguished entirely.



Fatigue creeping in

A bit of showboating from Japanese defender Nemoto, who dribbles out from the back. Wu isn’t having any of it and wipes out his opponent.
Tse adds another top-drawer stop to a collection of them at these Games, applying a gossamer touch to tip over Yota Komi’s drive from distance.
One chance follows another, and Sumi is left wishing he was an inch taller to make contact in front of goal after a cross from deep on the right.
71’, Hong Kong 0-2 Japan



Top-drawer save

Frustration for Hong Kong.
A rare foray forward ends with a ball into the box that Orr allows to travel across the face of goal without a touch.
The striker might not have sighted the ball until late, but he should have been hurtling himself at that.
Hong Kong make another change. Jordan Lam is done for the day, and on comes Lau Ka-kiu.


It’s now 3-0 to Japan – and Hong Kong are architects of their own downfall.
Tse plays the ball to Jojo on Hong Kong’s right. The defender accepts it facing his own goal, then turns blind.
He doesn’t, therefore, have any idea that Yota Komi is breathing down his neck.
Komi’s hard work is done with his fast closing down. The task with the ball at his feet is easy, with Tse out of position and leaving Komi a generous target for his low finish.



Hong Kong 0-3 Japan

Today’s crowd is announced at 7,456.
Most of them are cheering for Hong Kong, and are probably not seeing the sort of performance they were hoping for.


Attendance announcement

This isn’t the bravest thing we’ve ever said, but there’s no way back from here for Hong Kong.
Japan, silver medallists five years ago in Jakarta, conceded only two goals in their previous four matches.
They’re not about to ship three in 12 minutes – especially not against a team that has run itself into the ground.
79’, Hong Kong 0-3 Japan



No way back

Jorn Andersen is still encouraging and organising on the sidelines.
What a fabulous tournament this has been for the Norwegian coach, whose obvious tournament nous is very encouraging in advance of Hong Kong’s AFC Asian Cup finals campaign in January.
Meanwhile, it’s Japan’s turn to make changes. Captain Baba Seiya and goal scorer Shun Ayukawa coming off, on go Sato Kein and Taichi Yamasaki.


Tactical nous

The name of the game now is probably damage limitation.
And energy preservation, given Hong Kong will play the losers of the later semi-final between South Korea and Uzbekistan in the third-placed play-off on Saturday.


Save your energy

With five minutes left, it’s now 4-0 to Japan and it’s that man Hino again.
The 20-year-old has been Hong Kong’s toturer-in-chief, and after causing all sorts of bother with his left foot, emphatically reveals he is no one-trick pony.
Hino chops onto his right foot and bends a finish out of the reach of Tse’s full-length dive and into the far corner.



Hong Kong 0-4 Japan

Five added minutes.
A penny for the thoughts of Hong Kong’s exhausted players when they saw the electronic board announcing that news.



All but over

Tse prevents Japan from scoring a fifth, saving at the feet of substitute Kein Sato.
Another stop from Tse, this one more straightforward. The man taking aim was Hino, trying to claim the match ball to crown a fine individual performance.


Keeping the score down

The full-time whistle blows on Hong Kong’s hopes of reaching the Asian Games final.
Very little separated the teams in the opening half and Hong Kong might have counted themselves slightly unfortunate to trail to Shun Ayukawa’s 24th-minute goal, which owed a lot to a lapse from Sun Ming-him.
No arguments over the superior side after half-time, though. Star man Hino scored twice, either side of a goal for Yota Komi, who capitalised on a poor piece of play from Alex Jojo to net.



Hong Kong outclassed

Hong Kong will face either Uzbekistan or South Korea, with a bronze medal at stake on Saturday.
They have few reasons for self-recrimination following a typically industrious effort, off the back of massive efforts to beat Palestine and Iran.
They will feel disappointed, nonetheless, after defending magnificently in Hangzhou, that they twice shot themselves in the foot, gifting the first and third goals to Japan.
But that does it for our live coverage tonight – check back tomorrow for all the latest updates on Hong Kong’s medal charge in Hangzhou.


Asian Games 2023: Hong Kong’s footballers put to the sword by Japan in chastening semi-final loss – as it happened

It was a historic day for Hong Kong, whose athletes overtook the city’s biggest ever medal tally at an Asian Games But Jorn Andersen’s men’s football side are left to fight for bronze after a 4-0 thrashing by Japan on Wednesday evening

It was a historic day for Hong Kong, whose athletes overtook the city’s biggest ever medal tally at an Asian Games

But Jorn Andersen’s men’s football side are left to fight for bronze after a 4-0 thrashing by Japan on Wednesday evening