REALISTIC ANDERSEN OUT TO RESTORE CONFIDENCE
Hong Kong head coach looks to build for future after chastening 3-0 defeat in Uzbekistan seals World Cup exit with two group matches still to play
Jorn Andersen put a brave face on the lopsided defeat in Uzbekistan that sealed Hong Kong’s World Cup 2026 fate.
The hosts did not move beyond third gear and easily withstood injury blows for their two best players – opening goalscorer Eldor Shomurodov and skilful attacker Abbosbek Fayzullaev – as they reached the third qualification round with a 3-0 win.
The game laid bare the flaws in a Hong Kong team missing a host of frontline performers. In terms of their fitness levels, Andersen’s players have reverted to the mean following two months back in domestic football.
Hong Kong were a shadow of the relentless unit head coach Andersen forged for January’s Asian Cup finals, following a rigorous month-long, pre-tournament camp. Possession was habitually surrendered, with Hong Kong crying out for a midfielder capable of measuring an accurate forward pass.
On that note, Wong Wai, who has only recently returned from a long-standing groin problem, was sorely missed. Andersen was also without four centre backs who would have vied for starts, and X-factor forward Everton Camargo, who has flattered to deceive in a Hong Kong jersey, but remains the best bet to unsettle quality opposition.
Hong Kong were beaten 2-0 at home by Uzbekistan last week, and are bottom of the four-team group with a solitary point.
“I am not as disappointed as after the home game, and [in Uzbekistan] we saw the difference between the teams,” Andersen said. “We were together before the Asian Cup and it was easier to form the team. Now, we have had two months out of contact and we have injuries to important players ... maybe that is the difference.
“We need all our best players to compete with a quality team like Uzbekistan. “Those who played fought as much as possible. Two of the goals we conceded were very easy, but overall, 3-0 was the right result.”
Hong Kong were uncharacteristically passive, perhaps a consequence of dwindling confidence, after Uzbekistan inflicted a sixth straight defeat on Andersen’s team last week. Wide forwards Juninho and Max Poon Pui-hin were starved of meaningful possession. Michael Udebuluzor, starting over Matt Orr, was unable to make anything stick up front.
The teenager is bubbling with raw quality and promise and has the potential to be a key figure for years to come. Right now, however, he is playing fifth-tier football in Germany because of a fallout with his club Ingolstadt 04, and it showed.
“We are growing and we learn from these games,” said Andersen, who handed a debut off the bench to forward Jordan Lam Lok-kan.
“We are fighting, we have a great goalkeeper [Yapp Hung-fai, outstanding for a second straight game], and the defenders are doing well blocking and stopping goals.
“We have to improve in front. You see how easily and quickly Uzbekistan combine up front. We have to make it better for Asian Cup qualification next year.”
The excellent Shomurodov steered home a low delivery from Fayzullaev for Uzbekistan’s 20th-minute breakthrough. But he succumbed to an ankle injury and went off at half-time.
Fayzullaev hobbled off soon after, but his replacement, Khojimat Erkinov, scored from distance with 27 minutes remaining. Oston Urunov, who had replaced Shomurodov, was released by a straight ball behind Hong Kong’s high defensive line to complete the scoring seven minutes later.
Andersen said he was proud of the band of Hong Kong fans who travelled to Uzbekistan more in hope than expectation. “It is very difficult to a get a good result here, but they followed and supported us,” he added. Hong Kong complete their group fixtures against Iran and Turkmenistan in June.
The second fixture, in particular, is important as winning it gives the team the opportunity to climb into third position and gain Fifa world ranking points ahead of seeding for the 2027 Asian Cup qualifiers, which are scheduled to start next March.
With no World Cup fixtures in the international windows in September and October, Andersen said Hong Kong would aim to arrange friendlies against “opponents around the same level”.
“We need to come down again ... to win some matches and gain some confidence,” he said.
We have to improve ... We have to make it better for Asian Cup qualification next year JORN ANDERSEN, HK HEAD COACH