Hong Kong coach Losada ends Asian Cup qualifying campaign with defeat and ‘mixed feelings’
Interim mentor one of more than 300 applicants for permanent head coach role, with interviews to start this month and decision made in June
Hong Kong’s football team ended their 2027 AFC Asian Cup qualifying campaign with a 2-1 defeat in the dead-rubber match against India in Kochi on Tuesday, finishing the group stage under interim head coach Roberto Losada.
Losada, who took over after the departure of Ashley Westwood in November, is one of the more than 300 applicants in the running for the permanent head coach role.
Hong Kong headed into the match knowing that they were unable to qualify for the Asian Cup next year after losing 2-1 to Singapore at Kai Tak Stadium in November.
Losada, who took charge of his first international fixture, was missing several frontline players through injury, including Matt Orr, and Juninho through suspension.
The head coach handed debuts to four players and the starting 11 featured only four players from the defeat to Singapore.
Making their full international debuts, the 22-year-old goalkeeper Pong Cheuk-hei was picked ahead of the more experienced Tse Ka-wing, who was nursing a thigh injury, while midfielder Barak Braunshtain, 26, also started.