Fifa World Cup qualifiers: Hong Kong make their point in Turkmenistan after 19-hour trek
- Stand-in coach Wolfgang Luisser puts onus on attack in final qualifying match, but team record a defensive landmark in Ashgabat
Hong Kong claimed a point from their final Fifa World Cup qualifier following a stalemate with Turkmenistan in steamy Ashgabat on Tuesday night.
The scoreless draw was enough for the hosts to stay off the bottom of Group E, owing to their marginally superior goal difference over Hong Kong.
Wolfgang Luisser, the interim head coach, gave a first senior international start to forward Anson Wong Ho-chun, while there was a return to the starting 11 for Yu Wai-lim, two years after the Lee Man centre-back last began a game for Hong Kong.
Luisser, who was thrust into his temporary post after the resignation of Jorn Andersen last month, was faithful to his pre-match promise of going all out for victory.
Striker Michael Udebuluzor replaced Juninho for the second 45 minutes, and midfielder Philip Chan Siu-kwan gave way to attacker Poon Pui-hin shortly after the restart.
There was no way through a stubborn home rearguard on Ashgabat Stadium’s artificial surface, nonetheless. Hong Kong remained watertight at the back, however, to record a first clean sheet in 11 competitive fixtures.
