bodyType

customContents

entityId

entityUuid

articlePageQuery

filter

article

articleBaseAdvertisingInfoArticle

articleListArticle

articleSeoArticle

hooksArticleAcknowledgementGateOverlayArticle

hooksTrackPageViewArticle

hooksContentInterestArticle

articleLinkingDataContent

hooksAmpRedirectArticle

articleSchemaContent

liveArticle

advertZone

sentiment

contentLock

topics

types

sections

paywallTypes

createdDate

publishedDate

urlAlias

moreOnThisArticles

sponsorType

commentCount

authorLocations

authors

corrections

displaySlideShow

multimediaEmbed

printHeadline

seriesContainer

articleSpeeches

socialHeadline

headline

images

flag

firstTopic

glossary

flattenTypeIds

image

relatedLinks

relatedNewsletters

__typename

sponsor

pdfFiles

seriesReverseOrder

series

disableOffPlatformContent

published

updatedDate

summary

subHeadline

body

keywords

readingTime

customTimezone

liveContents

Paul McNamara

Ashley Westwood said Hong Kong wanted “to make history” when they tackle China in Seoul on Tuesday.
The city team last beat their mainland rivals in a competitive fixture 40 years ago, while they have lost all four previous East Asian Football Championship clashes between the teams by an aggregate score of 8-1.
Hong Kong have already lost their opening two matches in South Korea, after arriving at the tournament on a 10-match unbeaten run, but supporters have long identified the closing fixture as a golden opportunity for their side to exploit vulnerable opponents.
“We want to make history, but anyone who knows anything about me knows I want to win every game I play … whether it’s China, Chinese Taipei, Brazil, France, or England, I don’t care,” Westwood said.
“I understand that the fans want and need to win, but I’m always like that.”
Hong Kong won a friendly against China last year, for only their third success in 23 meetings.

The build-up to the match has been dominated by talk of Shinichi Chan’s recall to Chinese Super League club Shanghai Shenhua. Westwood said he had been happy to sanction Chan’s release because he “looks at the whole picture” when considering player welfare.
“That’s the reason I’m head coach,” he said. “You put yourself in a position to make decisions, sometimes they’re right, sometimes they’re wrong, but as long as they’re made for the right reasons, I’m completely comfortable with what we’re doing.
“We have to manage the game, let’s see how we do.”
Leon Jones, the forceful Hong Kong centre-back, is set for his first taste of the fixture. The 27-year-old, who said he was Westwood’s “coach on the field”, pointed out that a large majority of the squad had recently returned from their summer holidays, while the Japan, South Korea and China contingents were in the thick of their domestic seasons.
Playing world No 94 China last has allowed Hong Kong to get up to speed for their biggest and most winnable match.
“I’ve felt fitter and better as the games have gone by,” Jones said. “Two games in such a short period of time is draining, but it’s normal at this level of football, and your body has to adapt.”


Hong Kong’s footballers could play China, Chinese Taipei regularly in new league

Roberto Losada to quit Eastern days after being named interim Hong Kong boss

Civil war to refugee camp to career in Hong Kong for South Sudanese footballer

Losada named Hong Kong’s interim coach as FA hunts for boss with ‘global vision’

The Football Association of Hong Kong, China

East Asian Football Championship: Hong Kong boss Westwood out ‘to make history’ against China

Hong Kong head coach Ashley Westwood takes training ahead of his side’s East Asian Football Championship game against China in South Korea. Photo: HKFA

Max Poon Pui-hin celebrates scoring Hong Kong’s winning goal against China in January last year. Photo: HKFA

East Asian Football Championship: Hong Kong have nothing to fear from China, Chan says

Chan leaps into action during Hong Kong’s victory over Mongolia in December last year. Photo: Sam Tsang

Chan says questions about Hong Kong’s footballing independence are for the future. Photo: Xinhua

Chan celebrates with Matt Orr and Max Poon Pui-hin after scoring against UAE in last year’s Asian Cup. Photo: Xinhua

East Asian Football Championships: is Chan recall sign China are running scared of Hong Kong?

Hong Kong left-back Shinichi Chan (right) in action against South Korea in the East Asian Football Championship. Photo: Xinhua

Dejan Djurdjevic issues final instructions before China’s loss to South Korea last Monday. Photo: Xinhua

Oliver Gerbig, here in action against Japan, is set to be available for Hong Kong’s meeting with China. Photo: Xinhua

Sport

Football

City team looking for first competitive victory over mainlanders since the 1985 Beijing World Cup upset


City team looking for first competitive victory over mainlanders since the 1985 Beijing World Cup upset.


East Asian Football Championship

Shinichi Chan

Ashley Westwood

East Asian Football Championship: Hong Kong boss Westwood out ‘to make history’ against China

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}City team looking for first competitive victory over mainlanders since the 1985 Beijing World Cup upset

City team looking for first competitive victory over mainlanders since the 1985 Beijing World Cup upset