Hong Kong’s hopes of reaching the 2018 World Cup in Russia were dealt a huge blow last night after going down 3-2 to Qatar despite a spirited late comeback.
After securing an impressive 0-0 scoreline with China just across the border in Shenzhen on Thursday, Hong Kong went into the game on top of Group C having won two and drawn one of their opening three games.
But after the full-to-capacity Mong Kok Stadium continued its routine of booing the Chinese national – albeit in a slightly more subdued fashion than on previous occasions – it was the desert dwellers who took control of the game from the off as they looked to make it three wins from three in their qualifying campaign and leapfrog Hong Kong into first place.
The oil-rich nation took the lead midway through the first half via Karim Boudiaf, as the home side’s stubborn defence was breached for the first time in seven games in a run that stretched back until November last year.
Worse was to follow after the interval, with the visitors doubling their advantage just after the hour through Abdelkarim Hassan, before Mohamed Musa put the icing on the cake with six minutes remaining as he made it 3-0.
But Hong Kong refused to give up, and got on the scoresheet themselves in the 87th minute with a goal from Bai He to give the home support a smidgen of hope. And when Godfred Karikari netted in the final minute, excitement reverberated around the stadium as the crowd started to believe the impossible may just be possible.
It was not to be, however, as four minutes of injury time were played out without any further sights on goal as the Qataris returned west with three more points in the bag and in pole position in Group C.
To make matters a little more crushing for the 852, bitter rivals China also claimed maximum points as they secured a comfortable 3-0 away win over the Maldives to move ahead of Hong Kong on goal difference.
Qatar now sit on top of the group with nine points, two ahead of China and Hong Kong on seven points. But with only the group winners being assured of qualification for the third round of World Cup qualifiers, successive away wins for Hong Kong against Bhutan and the Maldives in the next two games are a must ahead of a tasty little home date with China in November.
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