FIFA World Cup 18 Qualifiers - CN vs HK match in Shenzhen on Sep 3 - Where to buy tickets?

[Tom007]

Bastien 偉忠 Wai-Chung
Crowd in a Prince Edward park outside watching HK v China Fifa qualifying match. pic.twitter.com/YebuQrVrZ1

[Tom007]

Brave Hong Kong delight home fans by holding China to 0-0 draw in frantic World Cup qualifier - Draw is a massive blow for China's hopes of reaching next round of World Cup qualifiers

[ by JAMES PORTEOUS, SCMP 10:13PM 17 November 2015 ]


Hong Kong drew 0-0 with China at Mong Kok Stadium on Tuesday night in a frantic 'local derby' - and even though a point did little to help HK's hopes of World Cup qualification, it was still greeted like a win by delighted home fans There may have been no goals but you couldn't take your eyes off the action for a moment as the team sent a raucous crowd of 6,071 home in raptures by frustrating the World Cup hopes of 'Big Brother' from across the Shenzhen River.

A win was a must for both teams, with China now almost certainly out of contention to reach the next round of World Cup qualifiers.

The draw wasn't much help for Hong Kong's hopes of becoming one of the best second-placed teams who reach the next round, but no-one in the stadium cared about that - it was all about landing another hammer blow on China, 30 years after a famous win in Beijing which ended the mainland's hopes of qualifying for World Cup 86.

China hit the woodwork twice and had the better chances, but as the game wore on they looked increasingly clueless as they ran out of ideas to get behind Hong Kong's defence. On the one clear occasion in which they did so, Yu Dabao forced a point-blank save from HK keeper Yapp Hung-fai, who then clawed out Yu' second attempt from the rebound - replays suggested it had crossed the line in a let-off for Hong Kong.

HK had few clear chances, but gave as good as they got in the second half, and might have counted themselves unlucky not to have nicked a win.

[Tom007]

Hong Kong's Bai He tackles Zhang Linpeng, Photo: KY Cheng



James McKee and WU Xi, Photo: KY Cheng



Hong Kong celebrate. Photo: KY Cheng

[Tom007]

Standings Group C


1 Qatar 18*
2 Hong Kong 14**
3 China PR 11*
4 Maldives 3*
5 Bhutan 0**

* 6 games played
**7 games played

[Tom007]

They play the Chinese anthem before a game?

In 0-0 Draw, Hong Kong Soccer Fans ‘Boo’ Chinese Anthem

http://www.wsj.com/articles/BL-CJB-28137

[Proplus]

The booing at the Chinese anthem I can take, but the swearing chants I've seen online from the HK fans directed at the fans of China were obscene.

[Tom007]

Ok here my ( short ) take from yesterday's game. Haven't seen Hong Kong playing for a long time but I think they did a decent job and performed pretty well. At the end the draw was a fair result IMHO. Fighting spirit was great although they really got tired legs towards the end as China pushed hard and with a bit more luck, China could have won the game in the final minutes. Not sure but it appeared Yu's ball crossed the line - so a real let-off for Hong Kong. China on the other hand was a massive disappointing. Not an expert of the Chinese Super League ( perhaps too many foreign players ) and the Chinese National Team but no win and no goals against a minor like HK in 2 games, is just not good enough. Yes they were the better team last night but not by much.