Hong Kong no match for relentless Uzbekistan, as Shomurodov and Ashurmatov settle World Cup qualifier
- AS Roma striker Eldor Shomurodov opens scoring to briefly silence partisan crowd at Mong Kok Stadium
- Rustamjon Ashurmatov adds second, with Hong Kong goalkeeper Yapp Hung-fai denying visitors on several occasions
Second half goals from Eldor Shomurodov and Rustamjon Ashurmatov consigned Hong Kong to defeat against a relentless Uzbekistan in a frenetic World Cup qualifier at Mong Kok Stadium on Thursday.
Hong Kong head coach Jorn Andersen had warned his team they would have to replicate the energy and fight that won them so many admirers at the recent Asian Cup finals to compete with their faster and more physical opponents.
And the home side heeded the Norwegian’s words, and aided by the combination of a trio of exceptional saves from goalkeeper Yapp Hung-fai, the woodwork, and a furious work rate, the hosts reached half-time level.
But a partisan crowd of 6,263 was briefly silenced four minutes after the break when Shomurodov tapped into an empty net. The visitors extended their lead with 24 minutes remaining when centre-back Rustamjon Ashurmatov capitalised on uncharacteristically lax defending to head home from a corner.
This was Hong Kong’s first competitive match since their Asian Cup campaign ended with a defeat by Palestine 68 days ago, and they picked up where they left off in Qatar, with discipline, commitment, and unquenchable desire for hard work.
They could not secure any meaningful possession, however, and wide forwards Everton Camargo and Juninho, on his competitive international debut, were too occupied helping their full-backs to disturb the visitors. Matt Orr, in the centre-forward’s role, received no service of note.
Uzbekistan, meanwhile, attacked in waves. They spent little time without the ball, so had energy in reserve when the warning light on Hong Kong’s fuel tank began flashing.
Tired legs were a factor when the hosts’ resistance was cracked by a move of clinical simplicity.
Abbosbek Fayzullaev, on as a substitute for the second half, opened up Hong Kong’s left side with a precise pass inside the box for Azizbek Turgunboev. His square delivery from the right invited Shomurodov to tap-in.
The AS Roma striker may well have had a hat-trick, but referee Kim Woo-sung ruled out an earlier effort for handball, and when Jaloliddin Masharipov sent him clear midway through the first half his shot beat Yapp only to hit the post.
Yapp, who was celebrating his 34th birthday, had earlier tumbled to his right to thwart Shomurodov, after the striker’s downwards header from 10 yards sped off the turf.
The goalkeeper reserved his best for Erkinov, repelling the winger’s blast to his left, before saving the rebound. The double-save was celebrated like a goal by most of the crowd, who nearly all seemed to receive the memo about dressing in red.
Uzbekistan put their foot down in search of a second after Shomurodov’s opener, and it eventually arrived when the accomplished Masharipov swung over a corner from the left. Yapp charged from his line, but was beaten to the ball by Ashurmatov, arriving unmarked to power home.
It was particularly harsh on the otherwise exceptional Yapp, who was the lone Hong Kong survivor from these teams’ last meeting in November 2013.
He made two more fine stops, both one-handed, to deny Fayzullaev, then Shomurodov.
Any further damage would have been harsh, however. Uzbekistan’s goalscorers came from Italy’s Serie A, in the shape of Shomurodov, currently on loan at Cagliari, and Rubin Kazan, in Russia’s top division.
Hong Kong boasted four players from the mainland in their starting XI, and seven from the local Premier League. Hard work beats talent, goes the saying, but not if the greater talent wants to work hard, too.
