AFC Champions League 2: Hong Kong’s Eastern sunk after costly error
Head coach Roberto Losada happy with team despite defeat by Nam Dinh, praises bravery of players after costly lapse
Roberto Losada paid tribute to his “humble and hard working” Eastern team, despite their 1-0 AFC Champions League Two defeat by streetwise Vietnamese champions Nam Dinh on Thursday.
The head coach also leapt to the defence of Leung Kwun-chung after the midfielder was caught in possession in the lead-up to Kristoffer Hansen’s decisive 54th-minute strike.
The Hong Kong FA Cup holders have lost their opening two matches, with back-to-back fixtures against Thai club Ratchaburi to come next, and Vu Hong Viet, the Nam Dinh head coach, said his team’s Mong Kok Stadium victory had “pushed Eastern into a very difficult position”.
Yapp Hung-fai was worked only once in the opening half, from a firm Percy Tau strike, as Eastern’s industry frustrated a visiting team populated entirely by foreigners.
The hosts’ left-winger Gil Martins twice zipped shots fractionally over, while the elusive Brazilian also lured Kevin Pham Ba and Brenna into yellow-card challenges.
“Martins can dribble and take on players one-v-one, and he caused us a lot of difficulties,” Vu said.