AFC Asian Cup: Andersen maintains Hong Kong last-16 ambition, ‘proud’ of players after pushing Iran close
- Hong Kong fell to a goal from Mehdi Ghayedi at Khalifa International Stadium
- Victory over Palestine on Tuesday a must for Jorn Andersen’s team to advance in Qatar
Jorn Andersen said Hong Kong remained in the fight to reach the last 16 of the Asian Cup, after his side harried Iran to distraction during a narrow 1-0 defeat in Al Rayyan on Saturday.
And it could have been a night to remember, if Everton Camargo and Philip Chan Siu-kwan had not wasted glorious first-half opportunities to score, either side of Mehdi Ghayedi bagging the winner with Iran’s first shot on target after 24 minutes.
Hong Kong ruffled their higher-ranked opponents, forcing a succession of mistakes and largely muzzling the Iranians’ gifted array of forwards.
But the result means victory over Palestine in Hong Kong’s final Group C game is a must if this first Asian Cup adventure for the city’s national team since 1968 is to extend beyond the game in Doha on Tuesday.
“I am very proud of my team, we faced a top side from Asia, 21st in the world rankings, after playing UAE [64th in global standings], who are also far in front of Hong Kong, but you could not see the difference in either game,” Andersen, whose team are ranked 150, said.