Paulo Bento, head coach of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), who was in charge of the South Korean national soccer team, won the match with Hørn Andersen, head coach of the Hong Kong national soccer team, who was in charge of Incheon United.
UAE won its first victory against Hong Kong 3-1 in the first Group C match of the 2023 Qatar Asian Cup at Khalifa International Stadium in Doha, Qatar on the 15th (Korea time).
In July last year, Bento got off to a fresh start by winning his first Asian Cup victory in seven months since taking the helm of the UAE. The UAE maintained second place in its group, losing goals to Iran (4-1 win), the leader who played against Palestine on the same day.
Andersen, who served as Incheon United coach for about a year since 2018, was appointed as Hong Kong national team coach in December 2021 and led Hong Kong to the Asian Cup finals for the first time in 55 years. During the 1968 Asian Cup, British Hong Kong was recognized for its first advance to the finals and re-signed in May last year until 2025.
The UAE showed an example of 4-3-3. Goalkeeper Khalid Aisa, Abdullah Idris, Bader Nasser, Khalifa Al Hamadi, and Zayed Sultan built the defense. Abdallah Ramadan, Ahia Nader, and Tanun Hamdan were in charge of the midfield. Fabiu Lima, Sultan Adil, and Kaiu Canedu were among the front lines.
Hong Kong also showed the same pattern as the counterparts in Hong Kong. Goalkeeper Yap Hong Pai, as well as Chan Shinichi, Li Ngaihoi, Oliver Geubic, and Witchenam, made up the defense line. Chan Siuquan, Tan Chen Rok and Wu Chunming were guarding the midfield, while Punfuihin, Matthew Wahr and Ibertong Kabargu were on the front line to score.
Hong Kong took the flow early in the game. In the 28th minute of the first half, Kabargu attempted a mid-range shot over one defense, but he headed straight to the goalkeeper 헤라카지노.
The UAE had a chance in the middle of the first half. Adil was shot in the 32nd minute when he was hit by the opponent’s defensive arm in the box. VAR review showed that the referee declared a penalty kick, and Adil himself scored the first goal.
In the 38th minute of the first half, Lima made a powerful right-footed shot from the right side of the box and hit the crossbar. In the 45th minute of the first half, Orr tried to get a header from a corner kick, but it weakly fell into the goalie’s arms and failed to use strength. The first half ended as it was.
In the second half, Hong Kong quickly tied the score. Three minutes into the second half, Siuquan, who kicked a cross from the right side of the ball, penetrated defense check and pushed his foot in to score.
The UAE went aggressive to get ahead again. Idris’ shot was blocked by the goalkeeper in the 6th minute of the second half, and Adil’s subsequent shot was also blocked by the goalkeeper. Zayed took the lead again by shaking the net after the third shot.
In the 26th minute of the second half, Abdil received a sensational forward pass and advanced into the box. In the following situation, Abdullah Hamad, who was replaced, was tackled by the opponent’s defense of the box. The referee even saw VAR, but he did not declare a penalty.
Additional time was given 10 minutes. In the 46th minute of extra time in the second half, Ahia Al Gasani, who was substituted, was tackled again in the opponent’s box and collapsed, and a VAR review found that a foul was recognized and a penalty was declared. Ahiya scored the third goal as she scored herself.
The UAE had a goal to score until the very last minute. In the 54th minute of extra time in the second half, Adil scored a header from Al Gasani’s cross from the right when he fell, but missed the ball.
Hong Kong scored a comeback goal in the 55th minute of the second half’s extra time, but it was canceled as a handball foul was declared first after VAR review. The game ended as it was.
The UAE got off to a good start with its first match. Since the second match will be against Palestine at 2:30 a.m. on the 19th at the Al-Zanub Stadium in Al-Wakra, if the match is caught, the UAE has a very good chance of advancing to the round of 16.
Hong Kong will face strong Iran in its second match. The two teams will challenge for their first win in the same venue as the first match at 2:30 a.m. on Tuesday.