Ilhan, Shawal shatter Hong Kong hearts, Singapore claim stunning Asian Cup upset

Hong Kong had their Asian Cup finals dream shattered inside five devastating minutes in a 2-1 defeat by Singapore at a shell-shocked Kai Tak Stadium on Tuesday. Second half goals from Shawal Anuar and Ilhan Fandi sent the visitors into dreamland and left most of the record 47,762-strong crowd stunned into silence at the final whistle. Matt Orr had given Hong Kong reason to believe, putting the home side ahead after 15 minutes. But boss Ashley Westwood’s mystifying decision to name the 41-year-old Wang Zhenpeng in goal backfired spectacularly, and it is Singapore who are heading to Saudi Arabia in 2027. “Everything was set for the fairy-tale ending. Sometimes you don’t get what you deserve,” Westwood said. “Not through lack of tactics, endeavour or desire. “Football is a cruel game at times, more disappointments than ups. This is up with my devastations.” Earlier this year, fans had called for the Englishman to be sacked, unimpressed with some of his tactics and a brusque manner that did not always endear him to them. But a winning team had silenced those critics; the recriminations are now likely to begin almost immediately. And yet, it could have been so different, with Hong Kong starting with a gusto and aggression that belied the reality that defeat would end their qualification hopes. Their courage was rewarded with a breakthrough for Orr that sparked pandemonium in the stands. But Singapore steadily clawed their way back into the contest and they drew level when Shawal Anuar capitalised on hesitation from Wang to scoop a neat finish over the goalkeeper after 63 minutes. Five minutes later, substitute Ilhan Fandi ripped a swerving 25-yard strike into the roof of Wang’s net to temporarily suck the air from the ground. Singapore subsequently employed a combination of gamesmanship, time-wasting and lion-hearted defending to get over the line and qualify for the tournament for the first time. Their only previous involvement was as hosts in 1984. “I knew it wouldn’t be easy in front of 50,000 [fans],” Gavin Lee, the Singapore boss, said. “I’m so happy for everyone involved. Tonight is a result of everyone pulling together.” Hong Kong’s players were left to rue their failure to reach a second straight Asian finals and the loss of the HK$1 million (US$128,500) qualifying jackpot they had been promised by the Football Association of Hong Kong, China. What Westwood’s bosses will make of his team selection is anyone’s guess, but the danger signs were there early with Wang, who was surprisingly chosen over Tse Ka-wing following his recall from a three-year international exile. Leaving his line to try to claim a free-kick, Wang was beaten to the punch by Safuwan Baharudin. Leon Jones intercepted the defender’s goalbound header to bail out his keeper. At the other end, Izwan Mahbud did well to palm away a drive from Camargo, and all the while Westwood was alternating between pacing his technical area and leaving Mongkolchai Pechsri making a mental note to avoid fourth official duties in Hong Kong in future. Juninho, one of four Brazil-born players in the hosts’ starting XI, was furious with himself for heading over after Yue Tze-nam improvised to hook a ball into the middle. When the same pair combined on the stroke of half-time, Juninho gathered a deep cross and shot across Izwan. The ball was probably travelling wide, but Baharudin could not take that risk and he thrashed clear. Westwood was not impressed when Baharudin’s challenge on Camargo in the box six minutes after half-time did not result in a penalty. All the while, Singapore battled on, and Jones had to come to the rescue again, preventing Song Ui-young from pulling the trigger after the Hong Kong defence dozed off. There would be no let-off soon after, when Wang delayed leaving his line to allow Anuar to skip onto a through ball and equalise. Moments later, Ilhan, who had already been fractionally off target with an effort from distance, found his range to turn the game on its head. There was late drama as a whipped Camargo free-kick hit the bar via a defensive head, and substitute Dudu glanced wide from a Shinichi Chan free-kick, but Singapore held firm throughout seven added minutes.

Ilhan, Shawal shatter Hong Kong hearts, Singapore claim stunning Asian Cup upset

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Hong Kong throw away early lead, lose winner-takes-all battle for place at 2027 tournament in Saudi Arabia

Hong Kong throw away early lead, lose winner-takes-all battle for place at 2027 tournament in Saudi Arabia