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Last Minute Goal By Wai Chiu Downs India
India’s winning run of nine matches has come to an end as Bob Houghton’s boys went down 2-1 to Hong Kong in an international friendly played at the Hong Kong Stadium earlier this evening.
14-Jan-2009 10:13:44 PM
The last loss came back in the SAFF Cup finals where they went down to Maldives by a solitary goal.
India started with Gouramangi Singh and Anwar as the two stopper backs with Mahesh Gawli on the bench. Anthony Pereira was handed a start with Renedy Singh being rested.
The AFC Challenge Cup champions had the better touches initially and looked more likely to score of the two teams. But as the match progressed the Hong Kong strike duo of Chao Pengfei and Au Yeung Yiu-chung began their moves from the flanks and did threaten the Indian citadel.
Goalkeeper Subrata Paul must be credited for his fine work between the sticks as he managed to help the score remain 0-0 at half-time.
India were guilty of squandering the chances that came their way and didn’t make the most of it.
In the second session, the home side started on a brighter note and were rewarded in the 70th minute when Au Yeung Yiu-chung’s 25 yard free-kick found its target. This spurred an instant reaction from India and they began to put pressure on Hong Kong.
Substitute Mahesh Gawli’s intended cross for Climax Lawrence was left by the latter for Bhaichung to slot the ball into the far post on the turn with ten minutes to go.
India did manage to hold on until the 94th minute when defender Ng Wai-chiu scored from the six yard box.
Bob Houghton pointed that had the team managed to convert the chances that came their way, the final result would have been otherwise.
“It never looked like we were going to lose the match but the last minute goal was something that changed it. It was a very useful game and the boys played well. If we could have capitalized on the chances then we should have certainly won the game.
“It was a balanced match though it was in the 94th minute that they managed to net in the ball. We were one down but came back strongly and overall it was decent performance by the players,” the Englishman was quoted saying.
Goalscorers Hong Kong: Au Yeung Yiu-chung (70th min) and Ng Wai-chiu (94th min)
Goalscorer India: Bhaichung Bhutia (80th min)
Hong Kong: Goalkeeper: Zhang Chunhui. Defenders: Lee Chi-ho, Cristiano Cordeiro, Ng Wai-chiu, Poon Yiu-cheuk. Midfielders: Lee Wailim, Xu Daishuai, Gerard Ambassa Guy, Cheung Kin-fung. Forwards: Chao Pengfei, Au Yeung Yiu-chung.
India: Goalkeeper: Subrata Paul, Defenders: Gouramangi Singh, Anwar, Samir Naik, Deepak Mandal. Midfielders: Climax Lawrence, N.P.Pradeep, Steven Dias, Anthony Pereira. Forwards: Bhaichung Bhutia, Sunil Chhetri.
India started with Gouramangi Singh and Anwar as the two stopper backs with Mahesh Gawli on the bench. Anthony Pereira was handed a start with Renedy Singh being rested.
The AFC Challenge Cup champions had the better touches initially and looked more likely to score of the two teams. But as the match progressed the Hong Kong strike duo of Chao Pengfei and Au Yeung Yiu-chung began their moves from the flanks and did threaten the Indian citadel.
Goalkeeper Subrata Paul must be credited for his fine work between the sticks as he managed to help the score remain 0-0 at half-time.
India were guilty of squandering the chances that came their way and didn’t make the most of it.
In the second session, the home side started on a brighter note and were rewarded in the 70th minute when Au Yeung Yiu-chung’s 25 yard free-kick found its target. This spurred an instant reaction from India and they began to put pressure on Hong Kong.
Substitute Mahesh Gawli’s intended cross for Climax Lawrence was left by the latter for Bhaichung to slot the ball into the far post on the turn with ten minutes to go.
India did manage to hold on until the 94th minute when defender Ng Wai-chiu scored from the six yard box.
Bob Houghton pointed that had the team managed to convert the chances that came their way, the final result would have been otherwise.
“It never looked like we were going to lose the match but the last minute goal was something that changed it. It was a very useful game and the boys played well. If we could have capitalized on the chances then we should have certainly won the game.
“It was a balanced match though it was in the 94th minute that they managed to net in the ball. We were one down but came back strongly and overall it was decent performance by the players,” the Englishman was quoted saying.
Goalscorers Hong Kong: Au Yeung Yiu-chung (70th min) and Ng Wai-chiu (94th min)
Goalscorer India: Bhaichung Bhutia (80th min)
Hong Kong: Goalkeeper: Zhang Chunhui. Defenders: Lee Chi-ho, Cristiano Cordeiro, Ng Wai-chiu, Poon Yiu-cheuk. Midfielders: Lee Wailim, Xu Daishuai, Gerard Ambassa Guy, Cheung Kin-fung. Forwards: Chao Pengfei, Au Yeung Yiu-chung.
India: Goalkeeper: Subrata Paul, Defenders: Gouramangi Singh, Anwar, Samir Naik, Deepak Mandal. Midfielders: Climax Lawrence, N.P.Pradeep, Steven Dias, Anthony Pereira. Forwards: Bhaichung Bhutia, Sunil Chhetri.
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