Hong Kong’s disastrous results at Asian Cup U23 qualifiers can teach players ‘a big lesson’, says coach
- Coach Szeto Man-chun says Hong Kong’s 10-0 thrashing by hosts Uzbekistan brought him shame
- Team also loses 3-0 to Iran and finishes weekend with a 0-0 draw with Afghanistan
Hong Kong head coach Szeto Man-chun apologised for his team’s embarrassing performance at the AFC U23 Asian Cup qualifiers, but urged his young players to keep their spirits up.
In failing to score a single goal, Hong Kong managed only one point from their three group matches, losing twice and drawing once, in Uzbekistan’s capital Tashkent.
The team started off the qualifiers with a 3-0 defeat to Iran, followed by a humiliating 10-0 hammering by the hosts on Saturday, but responded with a goalless draw against Afghanistan in the last match on Monday.
“I think first of all, I want to apologise to Hong Kong supporters,” Szeto said in a press conference following Saturday’s defeat. “I feel shame according to the result, according to the performance. This is not acceptable.”