Hong Kong coach rues lost opportunity after loss to China in East Asian tournament finale

Ashley Westwood tried to put on a brave face after his flat Hong Kong team spurned an opportunity to inflict more misery on a vulnerable China in a tame 1-0 loss on Tuesday.

The genuine optimism around Hong Kong’s prospects of toppling the Chinese in Seoul was punctured by a 20th-minute strike from midfielder Huang Zhengyu.

Head coach Westwood’s side never looked like mustering a reply, as China twice struck the woodwork and created all the clear openings.

The Englishman acknowledged Hong Kong had caught China at “one of their poorest points”, but praised his players for “having a real go, and trying to compete all over the pitch”.

“We were more aggressive, and were closing people down,” Westwood said.

“China are still a good side – they’re 50-odd places better than us in the rankings … but we matched them, for sure. China had chances, but that’s to be expected when you’re trying to go toe-to-toe with them.”