AFC Asian Cup: Hong Kong boss Andersen hails team’s ‘aggression’ after they beat China for first time in 29 years
- The city’s national team win 2-1 in friendly in Abu Dhabi as they get major boost ahead of Asian Cup finals
- Poon Pui-hin is the hero, scoring both goals to end Hong Kong’s long wait for a victory over their mainland counterparts
Hong Kong beat China for the first time in nearly 30 years in a friendly match in Abu Dhabi on Monday, and head coach Jorn Andersen hailed his side’s “aggression” during the historic victory.
Poon Pui-hin continued his terrific form, scoring twice in eight minutes shortly after half-time to earn the side a 2-1 victory at Baniyas Stadium. Tan Long had opened the scoring for China in the ninth minute.
The match was part of the Hong Kong team’s preparations for the AFC Asian Cup in Qatar later this month. They have qualified for the finals for the first time since 1968.
It had been Poon who supplied the only goal in October when Hong Kong’s under-23s produced a dramatic victory over continental giants Iran at the Asian Games, and the forward made the decisive contribution again in the United Arab Emirates capital.
He came off the bench to level after 51 minutes, then turned the contest on its head eight minutes later.
The match was an official Fifa fixture, but both teams’ football associations chose to stage it behind closed doors and limit information about the action. China reportedly had two players and a coach red-carded.
