HK, China beat India 1-0 in Kai Tak debut
HK, China beat India 1-0 in Kai Tak debut
Hong Kong, China takes a huge step towards the finals in Saudi Arabia in 2027. Image courtesy of the Hong Kong Football Association
Hong Kong, China on Tuesday won their Group C matchup against India in qualifiers for the 2027 AFC Asian Cup finals in Saudi Arabia, beating India 1-0 in the squad's debut game at the Kai Tak Stadium.
The match was played in front of the largest home crowd for a Hong Kong football match in history, with the 42,500 fans making it an amazing and feisty atmosphere.
The SAR won the game with a second-half injury time penalty after Michael Udebuluzor was fouled in the box.
Stefan Pereira calmly scored the winning penalty, sending the Kai Tak Sports Park into a frenzy.
India had a few chances with their striker Muhammed Ashique Kuruniyan missing a point blank shot in the 34th minute.
The team's legendary striker Sunil Chhetri – who came out of retirement to help his squad – played in the second half but to no avail.
Group C remains incredibly open for all sides, as Hong Kong, China take a huge step towards the finals in Saudi Arabia in 2027.
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South China Morning Post
11 hours ago
- South China Morning Post
Hong Kong should play all future matches at Kai Tak Stadium, goalscorer Pereira says
Hong Kong's match-winner Stefan Pereira said he hoped the city's football team could make Kai Tak Stadium their regular home after more than 42,000 fans roared them to victory there on Tuesday. A 1-0 defeat of India on the team's debut appearance at the new venue rewarded a crowd that dwarfed the 6,092 who showed up for a scoreless friendly with Nepal at Hong Kong Stadium last week. And Pereira, whose stoppage-time penalty earned Hong Kong three crucial AFC Asian Cup qualifying points, was keen to harness the fervour on show. 'I hope this can become our home ground – the atmosphere is amazing and everyone saw how we played,' Pereira said. 'We've never felt something like this. 'When we saw so many people screaming and supporting us, and shouting 'ga yau', it was an amazing feeling. We will win games here if we have these people supporting us. Hong Kong players celebrate winning their first match at Kai Tak Stadium. Photo: Sam Tsang 'I hope many people celebrate this victory, and the fans come to games more and more.'
RTHK
13 hours ago
- RTHK
Packed stadium 'shows potential for football boom'
Packed stadium 'shows potential for football boom' A massive fan-designed poster was unveiled before kickoff. Photo: RTHK A sports professor at Baptist University is urging the government to build on the success of Tuesday night's match at Kai Tak Stadium, which saw the Hong Kong, China, team make its debut at the new venue in front of more than 42,000 fans. The qualifying match for the AFC Asian Cup in 2027 ended with the local team edging India in a 1-0 win. The outpouring of support was not only seen in the spectator stands, but also at the nearby Kai Tak Mall, where 300 SAR team kits were quickly sold out. Professor Patrick Lau from the Department of Sports and Health Sciences at Baptist University said the sold-out match was a testament to strong local fan support for the SAR squad and hinted at an excellent opportunity to promote the team. He said the government should focus on ways to strengthen the sport's identity. "With the strong team support by the fans, it will boost up the product extension," Lau said. "For example, yesterday, almost all the jerseys for the Hong Kong team were sold out immediately, well before the match started. "So I think we need to produce our Hong Kong team logos, our Hong Kong team songs." Additionally, Lau suggested building a museum dedicated to football in the SAR to introduce the sport's glorious history to a new generation of fans. "When we look back and track back our Hong Kong soccer team record, [it] is brilliant," he said. "So I think a very strong sport identity in soccer should be built through the introduction of the soccer museum. "It will help to further strengthen the background for the soccer industry in Hong Kong." Lawmaker Vincent Cheng, also vice chairman of the Major Sports Events Committee, urged the government to promote the "home ground economy" and the "fan culture economy". He told an RTHK radio programme that he also attended the match. Cheng said the atmosphere was very good with many spectators supporting the Hong Kong, China, team, and described the spectacle as "a sea of red". "This represents a different audience demographic compared to past events – whether it's Coldplay, Rugby Sevens or Nicholas Tse's concerts," he said. "These are new spectators, fans who support local sports. "I believe we should fully seize this opportunity to energise these supporters, partners and sponsors. "Moving forward, leveraging this momentum to better develop our 'home ground economy' and 'fan culture economy' will be a crucial task."
South China Morning Post
17 hours ago
- South China Morning Post
After Hong Kong footballers send Kai Tak fans home happy, boss targets Asian Cup
Hong Kong's win over India at Kai Tak Stadium on Tuesday will be talked about for years and earned a golden chance to qualify for the 2027 AFC Asian Cup, according to coach Ashley Westwood. A third successive goalless draw looked on the cards before Stefan Pereira's stoppage-time penalty sparked wild celebrations among home fans. The 1-0 victory left Westwood's side second in Group C of the qualifying stage. Singapore claimed top spot – level with Hong Kong on four points but having scored more goals – thanks to their 2-1 win in Bangladesh on Tuesday. 'I am sure [Tuesday's] game will be talked about for years to come – the attendance, the result,' Westwood said. 'It puts us in a great position to qualify, and hopefully we can keep building, gaining momentum and improving.' His team's Asian Cup quest will resume in October with two qualifying fixtures against Bangladesh, away then home. They host Singapore in November before finishing with a match away to India next March. Only the top team in the group will go through to the finals in Saudi Arabia. Before that is next month's East Asian Football Federation Championship finals in South Korea, in which Hong Kong play Japan on July 8, the hosts three days later then China on July 15.
