Hong Kong boss Andersen admits gap between side and World Cup rivals is ‘too big’, laments lack of strike threat
- Limited home side comfortably beaten by Uzbekistan in World Cup qualifier at Mong Kok Stadium on Thursday
- Hong Kong now travel to Tashkent for return leg on Tuesday missing striker Everton Camargo and defender Helio Goncalves
Jorn Andersen acknowledged Hong Kong had encountered a gulf that was “too big” in their World Cup qualifying defeat by Uzbekistan on Thursday.
But any disappointment over the two “easy goals” his side conceded had been tempered by another ferociously competitive performance, the head coach said.
The fans who packed Mong Kok Stadium stayed long after full-time to salute their team, but as they drifted away, Andersen revealed the unenviable task he has to try to bridge the cavernous gap when the teams meet again in Tashkent on Tuesday.
Forward Everton Camargo will miss the match because of an Achilles problem, while defender Helio Goncalves has opted out for ‘personal reasons’.
That leaves Andersen with just three fit centre-backs, after Leon Jones failed to overcome a shoulder problem in time to make the trip to the Uzbek capital.
Camargo was a peripheral figure in Thursday’s game, and Andersen revealed the 32-year-old took painkillers to play, but was “a little bit handicapped”. The Brazil-born player will be replaced by North District’s Jordan Lam Lok-kan, who will be the 11th player in the squad to have been part of the historic semi-final run at the Asian Games.
Whoever lines up in attack will be tasked with improving Hong Kong in the area of the field where Andersen says they are currently falling down.
“I am always disappointed when we lose, but I saw a Hong Kong team that was fighting, and had good energy and mentality,” Andersen said. “We have good fans, who push us. But it is still not enough … the gap is too big.
“In the last third, we have some problems creating chances, and scoring goals, and we have to be better, otherwise it will always be difficult.”
Hong Kong, roared on by a sold-out crowd, were unstinting in their efforts to unsettle the away side, but Uzbekistan’s talent and greater physical presence meant they were never truly trouble.
Yapp Hung-fai made a string of exceptional saves on his 34th birthday, but striker Eldor Shomurodov tapped home soon after half-time, and the goalkeeper was partly at fault soon after, when Rustamjon Ashurmatov beat him to head home from a corner.
Andersen said Goncalves was detailed to track Ashurmatov, but was reluctant to go in too heavy on the defender, who ruled himself out of Tuesday’s return.
“Helio asked me a long time ago if he can play only one game,” Andersen said. “He is 38, and I had the feeling he does not have the energy for two games of this level, in six days. He played well, he was blocking shots, and heading. But for the second goal, he missed the striker with his marking.”
There is an argument to say Uzbekistan are the strongest team Hong Kong have encountered over the past four months, despite a succession of high-ranked opponents.
Head coach Srecko Katanec’s side eased off at 2-0, but even then a Hong Kong side energised by the introduction of Michael Udebuluzor did not create any chances.
Andersen said Matt Orr had won “a close race” with Udebuluzor for the striker’s jersey, but the teenager was in “better condition” than at the Asian Cup and in the reckoning to start next week.
Udebuluzor plays in the fifth tier of German football for Ingolstadt 04’s second team, and was told some home truths by Andersen after a poor performance in Qatar.
“He told me he has done a lot of work, along with [club] training,” Andersen said. “The level he is playing in Germany is not so high, but maybe it is OK for him. I feel better about his condition, but against Uzbekistan’s three [central] defenders, it is difficult to achieve something.”
