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South China Morning Post
12-06-2025
- Sport
- South China Morning Post
Hong Kong footballers aim to keep fans flocking to Kai Tak, goalkeeper Yapp says
Goalkeeper Yapp Hung-fai said Hong Kong's players had felt under pressure to rise to the occasion on their debut at Kai Tak Stadium this week, to turn the thousands who flocked to the new venue into regular attendees. Advertisement More than 42,000 people watched Ashley Westwood's team dramatically beat India 1-0 in an AFC Asian Cup qualifier on Tuesday, courtesy of a late penalty from Stefan Pereira. Four-figure home attendances have been the norm during Yapp's 15-year international career, but the switch to the new stadium, which officially opened in March, drew a number that hinted at untapped local interest. Yapp said the much larger Kai Tak crowd 'gave us power', and Hong Kong's chances of reaching the 2027 Asian finals would be boosted by playing their two remaining home qualifiers at the 50,000-capacity ground. 'It was one of my best nights playing for Hong Kong, but before the game I felt pressure,' Yapp said. Supporters unfurl a huge banner at Tuesday's match. Photo: Elson Li 'We knew a lot of fans were joining the party, and that the result would affect attendances after this game. We all wanted to win to convince them to come again.
South China Morning Post
11-06-2025
- Sport
- 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.'
South China Morning Post
11-06-2025
- Sport
- 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.
The Hindu
10-06-2025
- Sport
- The Hindu
Indian football continues to slide as team suffers defeat to lower-ranked Hong Kong
There was no stopping Indian football's decline as the senior men's team, lacking in spunk, finishing skill and the will to fight, suffered a calamitous 0-1 defeat to lower-ranked Hong Kong in a crucial 2027 AFC Asian Cup Qualifier match here on Tuesday. Hosts Hong Kong emerged victorious after an injury-time goal by Stefan Pereira. The referee awarded Hong Kong the penalty after India custodian Vishal Kaith came out of the goalline and tried to punch the ball to safety, only to end up hitting Michael Udebuluzor and injuring the player. Pereira (90+4) stepped up to take the spot kick and shot the ball to the right of Kaith, who was also shown a yellow card for his injury-time foul. The latest reverse jeopardised India's prospects of reaching the next Asian Cup in Saudi Arabia, and the team is also set to drop to 133 on the FIFA rankings with Hong Kong gaining points and climbing up in the pecking order. It is a continuation of a series of disappointing results that the team has endured in recent years during which activities off the field grabbed more headlines than on-field performances, including the unceremonious exit of previous head coach Igor Stimac after an ugly dispute with his employers All India Football Federation (AIFF). Such has been the team's woes that head coach Manolo Marquez was forced to convince Sunil Chhetri to come out of retirement a year after he called it quits in international football. However, even his comeback has not been able to lift the team out of the abyss it has found itself in recent times. The future of Manolo, who succeeded Stimac while also holding on to his job as ISL side FC Goa's coach, is also uncertain with the national team. There is speculation that Manolo might request the AIFF to relieve him from his job. But sources in the AIFF said that he cannot do so unilaterally as he was appointed for a two year tenure. 'He can do so only after mutual agreement, that the AIFF gives him permission to part ways,' an AIFF source told PTI. 'We have not got any request in writing from Manolo that he wants to leave from the job. We can apply our mind only after he informs us what he wants,' the source added. As his wards went about fluffing the two-three clear chances that came their way, Manolo was seen expressing his frustration on the touchline. Earlier in the day, Manolo kept out veteran striker Chhetri from the starting XI. A sea of red packed the stands at the newly built Kai Tak Stadium but despite the strong home support, India did pretty well to create a few chances in the first half, even though Hong Kong enjoyed more possession. But, as has been the trend with them in recent times, the lack of finishing has again let the Blue Tigers down in the first 45 minutes. Among the opportunities that came their way before the half time break, the Indians came closest in the 35th minute but Ashique Kuruniyan shot the ball wide from a close range after Liston Colaco ran down the left to provide him a nice cross. Meanwhile, after having received medical attention after getting injured, Colaco unleashed a powerful long-range shot but it went straight into the keeper's gloves. Hong Kong also grew in confidence as the game approached the half time. The home team could have taken the lead from a free-kick had it not been for a timely clearance by Asish Rai from goal-mouth after custodian Vishal Kaith was beaten. Both India and Hong Kong have had their moments but neither side could convert in a tightly contested first half of this crucial 2027 AFC Asian Cup Qualifier. Kuruniyan, who has otherwise performed his job admirably on the flanks, looked to have got another chance to break the deadlock some minutes into the second half, but could not. Soon after, coach Marquez brought on India's all-time highest goal-scorer Chhetri alongside Naorem Singh in place of Kuruniyan and Brandon Fernandes. India created chances in the second half too, including in the 81st minute when Lallianzuala Chhangte found Chhetri with a brilliant cutback inside the Hong Kong box, but the veteran striker was not able to connect it well. The result is a setback for India who came into the game after a goal-less draw against Bangladesh in their first Asian Cup qualifying match, at home in March. India have one point from two games and are last in the group, and only one team from the pool of four will qualify for the final. India will now need to win their remaining four matches, but given their inability to score, it looks improbable.
News18
10-06-2025
- Sport
- News18
'Completely Unacceptable...Just Not Good Enough': Parth Jindal Lambasts Indian Football Team
Last Updated: Indian football team lost 0-1 to Hong Kong in a crucial 2027 AFC Asian Cup Qualifier, jeopardizing their chances and likely dropping to 133 in FIFA rankings. Indian football's struggles continued as the senior men's team, lacking determination, finishing, and the will to fight, suffered a disappointing 0-1 defeat to lower-ranked Hong Kong in a crucial 2027 AFC Asian Cup Qualifier match on Tuesday. Hosts Hong Kong secured victory with an injury-time goal by Stefan Pereira in the 94th minute penalty, in what was a slap in the face to the atrocious Indian team. This defeat jeopardised India's chances of qualifying for the next Asian Cup in Saudi Arabia, and the team is likely to drop to 133 in the FIFA rankings, while Hong Kong will gain points and move up in the standings. India's abhorrent showing in Hong Kong tonight angered many a fans alike, including Parth Jindal, who expressed his resentment and disappointment on X. This is completely unacceptable @IndianFootball – just not good enough under any circumstances – deep introspection needed by the AIFF – this is not what all of us lovers and backers of Indian football have spent our hard earned money and effort to witness – get a manager and a…— Parth Jindal (@ParthJindal11) June 10, 2025 'This is completely unacceptable @IndianFootball – just not good enough under any circumstances – deep introspection needed by the AIFF – this is not what all of us lovers and backers of Indian football have spent our hard earned money and effort to witness – get a manager and a system that works – it's high time – there is too much effort to see a result like this," Jindal wrote in his post. The team's struggles have been so significant that head coach Manolo Marquez had to persuade Sunil Chhetri to come out of retirement, a year after he had decided to step away from international football. Despite Chhetri's return, the team remains stuck in its recent downward spiral. Manolo's future with the national team is also uncertain. In addition to his role as the head coach of the national team, he continues to hold his position at ISL side FC Goa. With a dismal record of one win in their last 12 matches, the Indian football team continues to show no sign of improvement, and unsurprisingly, one could bet their money on not expecting much anytime in the near future. First Published: June 10, 2025, 22:29 IST
