Hong Kong were a shadow of the relentless unit head coach Andersen forged for January’s Asian Cup finals, following a rigorous month-long, pre-tournament camp.

Possession was habitually surrendered, with Hong Kong crying out for a midfielder capable of measuring an accurate forward pass.

On that note, Wong Wai, who has only recently returned from a long-standing groin problem, was sorely missed. Andersen was additionally without four centre-backs who would have vied for starts, and X-factor forward Everton Camargo, who has flattered to deceive in a Hong Kong jersey, but remains the best bet to unsettle quality opposition.

Hong Kong were beaten 2-0 at home by Uzbekistan last week, and are bottom of the four-team group with a solitary point.

“I am not as disappointed as after the home game, and [in Uzbekistan] we saw the difference between the teams,” Andersen said.

“We were together before the Asian Cup, and it was easier to form the team. Now, we have had two months out of contact, and we have injuries to important players, maybe that is the difference.

“We need all our best players to compete with a quality team like Uzbekistan.

“Those who played fought as much as possible. Two of the goals we conceded were very easy, but, overall, 3-0 was the right result.”

Hong Kong were uncharacteristically passive on Tuesday, perhaps a consequence of dwindling confidence, after Uzbekistan inflicted a sixth straight defeat on Andersen’s team last week. The wide forwards, Juninho and Max Poon Pui-hin, were starved of meaningful possession. Michael Udebuluzor, given the nod to start over Matt Orr, was unable to make anything stick up front.

The teenager is bubbling with raw quality and promise, and has the potential to be a key figure for years to come. Right now, however, he is playing fifth-tier football in Germany, because of a fallout with his club, Ingolstadt 04, and it showed.

“We are growing, and we learn from these games,” said Andersen, who handed a debut off the bench to forward Jordan Lam Lok-kan. “We are fighting, we have a great goalkeeper [Yapp Hung-fai, outstanding for a second straight game], and the defenders are doing well, blocking and stopping goals.

“We have to improve in front. You see how easily and quickly Uzbekistan combine up front, and we have to make it better for Asian Cup qualification next year.”

The excellent Shomurodov steered home a low delivery from Fayzullaev for Uzbekistan’s 20th-minute breakthrough. But he succumbed to an ankle injury and went off at half-time.

Fayzullaev hobbled off soon after, but his replacement, Khojimat Erkinov, scored from distance with 27 minutes remaining.

Oston Urunov, who had replaced Shomurodov, was released by a straight ball behind Hong Kong’s high defensive line to complete the scoring seven minutes later.

Andersen said he was “proud” of the band of Hong Kong supporters who travelled to Uzbekistan more in hope than expectation. “It is very difficult to a get good result here, but they followed and supported us,” he added.

Hong Kong complete their group fixtures against Iran and Turkmenistan in June.

The second fixture, in particular, is important as winning it gives the team the opportunity to climb into third position, and gain Fifa World ranking points ahead of seeding for the 2027 Asian Cup qualifiers, which are scheduled to start next March.

With no World Cup fixtures in the international windows in September and October, Andersen said, Hong Kong would aim to arrange friendlies against “opponents around the same level”.

“We need to come down again … to win some matches, and gain some confidence,” he said.