Latest news with #MattOrr
South China Morning Post
3 days ago
- Sport
- South China Morning Post
Hong Kong's rocket man brought crashing back to earth by Japan, but boosted by late goal
After the 'rocket ride' of his first year at Chinese Super League giants Shanghai Shenhua, Shinichi Chan was brought crashing back to earth by Japan on Tuesday. Advertisement Chan, who was born in Japan but has grown into Hong Kong's most accomplished player at the age of 22, was as culpable as any of his teammates in going 5-0 behind after 26 minutes. The left-back, however, said a more competitive second-half display had laid the platform for another formidable test on Friday, against East Asian Football Championship hosts South Korea. Matt Orr netted a consolation before Japan completed the 6-1 rout deep into stoppage time. 'It takes some courage to come out and fight knowing the game has gone,' Chan said. 'At half-time, we set some small targets: to score against a better side and to not concede again. Advertisement 'We almost achieved both objectives. It's a good match for us to know where we need to improve and how to prepare for these games in future. The result was disappointing, but it reflected the difference between us and the top Asian teams.'
South China Morning Post
4 days ago
- Sport
- South China Morning Post
East Asian Football Championship: Hong Kong taught lesson by ruthless Japan
Battered and bruised Hong Kong suffered an embarrassing 6-1 loss to an inexperienced Japan side in their opening East Asian Football Championship finals match in Yongin on Tuesday. Ryo Germain, one of six Japanese starting debutants, helped himself to four quickfire goals as his side sprinted into a 5-0 lead after 26 minutes. Sandwiched between those, midfielder Sho Inagaki leathered in Japan's third goal from 25 yards. Slight solace for Hong Kong arrived in the shape of their first East Asian finals goal since 2003 when Matt Orr pounced from close range after 59 minutes. Sota Nakamura, who replaced Germain at half-time, scored Japan's sixth with the final kick. More to follow …
South China Morning Post
26-03-2025
- Sport
- South China Morning Post
Why Hong Kong needed ‘home truths' during Asian Cup clash in Singapore
Hong Kong head coach Ashley Westwood has said he dished out 'a few home truths' at half-time of his side's AFC Asian Cup qualifying stalemate in Singapore. Advertisement The visitors toiled during an uninspiring opening 45 minutes on Tuesday night and had a combination of goalkeeper Yapp Hung-fai and lacklustre Singapore forward play to thank for remaining level. Hong Kong also had a stroke of fortune when referee Chae Sanghyeop ruled out a second-minute strike from home defender Lionel Tan. Westwood made the bold decision to replace midfielder Wong Wai with right-back Yue Tze-nam after 35 minutes, but said he could have withdrawn 'any of six or seven' players. Hong Kong speedily improved after the change, with previously isolated striker Matt Orr becoming increasingly influential. He smacked the bar with a 61st-minute header, following a corner from Everton Camargo, who also grew as an attacking force after the first-half rejig. 'We were poor in the first half, sluggish, I don't know if it was the humidity, but our key players didn't do what they normally do,' Westwood said. Matt Orr crashes a header against the bar in Singapore. Photo: HKFA 'We were getting outplayed in midfield, we had three midfielders against theirs … but we didn't get near them. I am old enough and wise enough to know something had to be changed … we were there to be beaten. It could have been six or seven of them [who came off], but [the change] gave us more stability, strength and physicality.
