Hong Kong edge out India 1-0

Starting off the match on a positive note the Indian team led the attack on their Hong Kong counterparts with a lot of gusto and fervour.

Having created quite a few inroads into the Hong Kong defence in the initial minutes of the game. The Indians under captain Climax Lawrence continuously kept on battering the Hong Kong defence. Goalkeeper Li Hon Ko was tested time and again through the relentless shots by Clifford Miranda and Surkumar Singh.

In the 30th minute of the game,India had a real good shot on the goal when a pass by Miranda went flying past the head of Sunil Chhetri. While the attacks on the Indian goal were few and far,and keeper Subrata Pal was not tested a lot barring a few occasions when the combination of captain Li Haiqiang and Lo Kwan Yee almost left the Indian defence wanting.

The first half of the match saw the two teams unable to break the deadlock and go into the dressing rooms goalless. The second half started on a more positive note for Hong Kong,who began to gain more control of the ball in the second half through a combination of impressive running through tactics and a five man midfield attack that was put up by Hong Kong to thwart the Indian defences. And while they didn’t mange to break the deadlock,eventually in the 76 th minute through the boot of their captain Li Haiqiang. Speaking at the post match conference Indian coach Bob Houghton said “While we didn’t convert any of our chances and Hong Kong scored when it mattered the most,I am satisfied with the overall effort of the team. They are growing slowly,and even though I don’t expect them to perform extremely well against other Asian powerhouses like Japan and Australia,but we are slowly coming up.”

India did have a brilliant chance to secure a draw in the 91 st minute of the match but it too went begging as the player failed to convert the same and beat goalkeeper Li Hon Ho. “On the whole we are expecting to perform better against our next opponents on Friday,Vietnam. And even though they are a tough team,it would have been nice to be able to have had secured a win today. Even though Hong Kong played short passes eventually they did win,that is what was important,” said Houghton.

The Indian team,which is scheduled to play Yemen and Vietnam respectively,has been hampered due to injuries to key players,which includes defenders Mahesh Gawli and Anwar Ali,midfielder NP Pradeep as well as strikers Mohammad Rafi and team captain Bhaichung Bhutia.