How can Gary White’s Hong Kong make the EAFF Championships? Where can I watch the Mongolia match?
- Hong Kong must beat Mongolia by as many goals as possible on Friday
- North Korea will know what they need to do before they play Taiwan
Hong Kong’s impressive 0-0 draw with North Korea in Taipei on Tuesday means they go into the final game of the EAFF Championships qualifying tournament with a chance of making the finals.
They have reason to hope after two good results.
The men’s representative team have never beaten North Korea and Tuesday’s goalless encounter was only the fifth time they have drawn in 18 meetings.
The result leaves Hong Kong and North Korea on four points from two games but the Koreans are ahead on goal difference.
Hong Kong beat Taiwan 2-1 with a late Cheung Wai-keung winner in the first game, which was coach Gary White’s first competitive game in charge of Hong Kong and came against his former team.
Meanwhile, North Korea triumphed 4-1 over Mongolia, giving them a two-goal advantage.
Hong Kong will need to beat Mongolia and score as many as they can while hoping Taiwan can do them a favour against North Korea.
The other factor against Hong Kong progressing is that unlike major tournaments the games will not be taking place at the same time.
Hong Kong play Mongolia at 3.10pm on Friday while North Korea-Taiwan is at 7.10pm.
That means North Korea will know exactly what they need to do to qualify for next year’s finals in South Korea.
Whoever qualifies from the four-way tournament in Taiwan will join South Korea, Japan and China in the finals.
Hong Kong have not qualified for the final stage since 2010 when they finished fourth. They also finished fourth at the first tournament in 2003.
Friday’s games will be streamed live on the EAFF official website.
