Booing Hong Kong fans have plenty to cheer about after 0-0 draw with Bahrain in World Cup qualifier
- A relatively young team produce a brave performance against a strong Bahrain side, securing their second point in the group
Hong Kong fans may have booed the China anthem but they also had plenty to cheer about as a spirited home side forced a 0-0 draw against visitors Bahrain in their 2022 World Cup qualifying Asian zone clash on Thursday.
Coach Mixu Paatelainen put his faith in a number of young players who made sure they did not let the 4,500 fans at the Hong Kong Stadium down, securing their second point in group C after drawing away against Cambodia in their first match in September.
Almost half of the starting line-up was made up of up-and-coming players who the coach says will be the future of Hong Kong. Young guns such as Tan Chun-lok, Leung Nok-hang, Law Tze-chun, Tsui Wai-kit and Cheng Siu-kwan will certainly have more opportunities to prove themselves in future, while goalkeeper Yapp Hung-fai also enjoyed a solid night with his acrobatic saves and earned the MVP award.
“I decided on a starting 11 who were most capable of giving us the performance [we wanted],” said Paatelainen. “They were fantastic, committed, with real desire to play for Hong Kong and for the supporters.
“The boys were organised, we’ve been developing all the time and I am glad we didn’t concede a goal today. It was a draw and we were pleased although we might have won it.”