US club issues response to ‘headlines and negativity’ over Lionel Messi Hong Kong no-show, says sorry, and hopes fans will one day welcome team back to the city.
Three days after their minor roles in the Inter Miami circus, several players feature in the Guangdong-Hong Kong Cup, joined by Ellison Tsang despite him quitting the city for UK because local pay was ‘insufficient to continue playing here’.
Home goalkeeper Yapp Hung-fai says ‘not playing against Messi was disappointing’ after Argentinian sat out Inter Miami’s 4-1 win in Hong Kong, but city’s coach Jorn Andersen has other priorities.
Fans came from across the region to watch Lionel Messi play a friendly match at Hong Kong Stadium but the game ended in boos as he failed to take to the field.
Inter Miami coach acknowledges ‘a lot of disappointment’ over Messi and Luis Suarez not playing, saying it was ‘the decision of the medical team’ earlier in the day, after fans booed and chanted for refunds.
Inter Miami’s opponents, a Hong Kong invitational side, ‘will go out and push them’, coach Jorn Andersen says.
Calum Hall is poised to face the World Cup winner and his Inter Miami teammates in a packed Hong Kong Stadium, less than a year after playing part-time in Scotland’s fifth tier.
US team hold training in front of thousands of fans at Hong Kong Stadium, and organisers again warn against travelling to Causeway Bay without tickets, or buying them from third parties.
Hong Kong head coach Jorn Andersen is open to the idea of playing home games at Mong Kok Stadium, after a raucous crowd inspired his team to victory over a Guangdong XI.
Hong Kong give their ecstatic supporters at Mong Kok Stadium plenty to shout about as they outplay a Guangdong XI in 2-0 win.
Hong Kong will stick to the team’s combative approach when a young side take on a Guangdong XI at Mong Kok Stadium on Wednesday.
Days after performing in front of thousands, Hong Kong players return to domestic action in more modest surroundings, where supporters question whether local FA is doing enough.
‘It is a Hong Kong player in a better league, which is positive,’ coach Jorn Andersen says after Matt Orr joins Sichuan Jiuniu – and he explains make-up of squad for friendly against Inter Miami.
Wu Chun-ming, one of the stand-out performers of city side’s Asian Cup campaign, says it is imperative players maintain their fitness levels when they return to club comfort zones.
The city’s stirring Asian Cup performances will go to waste unless there is a major shift in attitude towards sport, veteran goalkeeper Yapp Hung-fai says.
Japan head coach Hajime Moriyasu hails improvements in Indonesia victory, but warns long way to go to compete with Asian heavyweights in Qatar.
An emotional Yue Tze-nam says he wants to ‘play for this team for the next 10 years’ after Asian Cup displays show Hong Kong’s rising aspirations, while travelling supporters chant ‘stay’ at coach Jorn Andersen.
Head coach Jorn Andersen says tired team were below par against Palestine in final Group C defeat, looks ahead to World Cup qualifiers.
Japan coach Hajime Moriyasu condemns those who targeted Zion Suzuki following shock Asian Cup loss to Iraq, saying: ‘This cannot happen in a diverse world.’
City’s national team concede two goals in 12 second-half minutes, following early opener for Palestine, as faint hopes of a place in the last 16 slip away despite a trio of gutsy performances.
‘I have no regrets, because we did everything we could,’ Aleksandar Jankovic says after national team again lacked quality in defeat by hosts Qatar.
Head coach Jorn Andersen knows a win could propel his side into the last 16, and is targeting a stronger performance ‘with better finishing’.
China fail to take advantage of a raft of Qatar changes, slipping to a 1-0 defeat and, possibly, out of the AFC Asian Cup finals.
The 500 Hongkongers attending the city’s first continental finals since 1968 tell of roundabout routes to make the trip more affordable, including opting to stay in London between matches.
Hong Kong’s Shinchi Chan eyes move abroad after being involved in ‘proper games’ in Middle East, and experiencing quality of foreign opposition and facilities.
‘We showed that a small city like Hong Kong can turn up in the big games,’ Nunez says before final group match against Palestine that could earn a knockout spot. ‘I think we have surprised everybody.’
China must beat hosts Qatar on Monday to guarantee reaching last 16. Only in three previous editions, the last in 2011, have they failed to successfully navigate the group stage.
Michael Udebuluzor admits his bench role in Qatar has been frustrating, but insists Hong Kong’s knockout hopes come first and he is ‘not at all surprised’ by their plucky performances.
Defender Tyias Browning is embracing the pressure as China try to avoid being knocked out of tournament at group stage for first time since 2011.
Head coach Jorn Andersen says Hong Kong retain more than a puncher’s chance of reaching the last-16 of the Asian Cup.
