Hong Kong strike at death for stunning AFC Asian Cup win in Bangladesh

Substitute Raphael Merkies completed a thrilling hat-trick with a 101st-minute winner as Hong Kong won an astonishing AFC Asian Cup qualifier 4-3 in Bangladesh.

The city team had hit back through Everton Camargo and a Merkies double after Hamza Choudhury gave the hosts a 13th-minute lead.

But it looked like Hong Kong had blown a golden opportunity to seize the initiative in their qualifying Group C after Shekh Morsalin struck in the 84th minute, and Shamit Shome buried a header beyond substitute keeper Tse Ka-wing in the ninth added minute at a fevered National Stadium in Dhaka.

There would be one final twist in the tale, however. Jesse Yu Joy-yin slung over a cross that broke for Shinichi Chan. He could not gather but the ball ran for Merkies, who squeezed his effort through goalkeeper Mitul Marma for his fifth goal in five international appearances.

Hong Kong’s 10th and most dramatic victory of head coach Ashley Westwood’s 17-match reign gave them a two-point advantage over second-place Singapore halfway through the six-match campaign, ahead of the return meeting with Bangladesh at Kai Tak Stadium next Tuesday. Only the group winners will qualify for the 2027 Saudi Arabian finals.

Singapore had blown a chance to apply pressure on Hong Kong earlier in the day when they shipped a last-gasp goal to draw 1-1 at home with an India side that was reduced to 10 men early in the second half.