Hong Kong ease past Mongolia to move step closer to East Asian Football Federation finals
Camargo, Wong and debutant Benavides all on target as Ashley Westwood’s team make winning start to qualifying tournament
Hong Kong beat Mongolia 3-0 for a perfect start to their East Asian Football Federation Championship qualifying campaign on Sunday.
The hosts’ football was more functional than flashy, save for some moments of individual brilliance from Wong Wai, on an occasion that will be most remembered for Yapp Hung-fai becoming the first Hongkonger to reach 100 international caps.
With five players strung out across the back, and very little imagination or belief on the rare occasions they escaped their own half, the best a limited Mongolia could hope for was to smuggle a point out of Mong Kok Stadium.
But after Everton Camargo’s 24th-minute breakthrough, the visitors’ ambition reduced to keeping the score down. Hong Kong, meanwhile, set about trying to massage their goal difference, which could determine whether it is Ashley Westwood’s side or Chinese Taipei that advance to the qualifying final, if the teams draw next Saturday.
Certainly, Chinese Taipei should comfortably see off Mongolia on Wednesday, and will provide a sterner test for Westwood, who, with victory in six days, would become the first Hong Kong boss since Kim Pan-gon in 2016 to win five straight matches.
Westwood’s fourth successive victory was essentially sealed when Wong arrowed in Hong Kong’s second goal after 35 minutes. Nicholas Benavides celebrated his full-debut by planting home a header on the hour.
