Hong Kong v Cambodia: Mixu Paatelainen’s team looks for flying start in World Cup qualifying opener in Phnom Penh
- New coach Paatelainen in charge of first competitive game since joining in April
- Hong Kong beat the Southeast Asian nation twice in 2016
Hong Kong’s representative team is hoping to provide the city with some badly needed good news as they kick off their 2022 World Cup Asian zone second round qualifying campaign against hosts Cambodia on Thursday.
Hong Kong have never lost to the Southeast Asian nation in their five previous encounters, including two friendlies in 2016, putting pressure on new coach Mixu Paatelainen. The Finn has had only one match as preparation for their appearance at National Olympic Stadium in Phnom Penh.
“We all look forward to the match, hoping the team can bring home some good results in the beginning of the tournament which will be essential not only for the fans but also for the city as a whole,” said Hong Kong Football Association chairman Pui Kwan-kay. “A good result on the soccer pitch would be a form of encouragement to all people of Hong Kong when we are enduring some difficult times.”
Paatelainen, who took on the job in April, preferred not to talk politics, saying he was focused 100 per cent on soccer. “I don’t want to bring politics into sports, but I want to bring happy occasions for our supporters, for Hong Kong people. That’s for sure,” he said.
The former Finland international said one game as preparation was not ideal. Hong Kong lost to visitors Taiwan 2-0 in a friendly in June, but he accepted the reality of the situation. The side have a tough match against group C top seeds Iran on Tuesday. The two others teams in the group are Iraq and Bahrain.