Hong Kong fans at the Mong Kok Stadium during their game against Maldives (Photo : Reuters)
Hong Kong won its second straight game in the FIFA World Cup Russia Asian qualifiers by trouncing Maldives, 2-0, at the Mong Kok Stadium in Hong Kong on Tuesday, June 16.
Kim Pan-Gon's wards were coming off a 7-0 destruction of Bhutan on June 11 to currently top their AFC qualification bracket with a total of 6 points.
The board remained scoreless after the first half as Hong Kong failed to convert on its many attempts at Red Snappers' goalkeeper Imran Mohamed as per Coconuts Hong Kong.
But the second half became a different story when striker Xu Deshuai and midfielder Lam Ka Wai sent home a goal each at the 63rd and 67th-minute marks to provide the final count.
What is curious about this match is the apparent booing of more than 6,000 fans in the jam-packed Mong Kok Stadium during the singing of the Chinese national anthem before the game. It was the same during the team's first game against Bhutan, only this time it was longer and louder, which was quickly followed by shouts of "We are Hong Kong!" afterward.
Reportedly, the fans did it in objection of the Chinese Football Association's recent "discriminatory" behaviors against the team, according to the South China Morning Post.
Forty fives Asian teams were split in eight groups for this World Cup qualifying tournament. Twelve teams, which includes the top teams from the eight brackets plus the top four second placers, will move on to separate a knockout World Cup qualifying stage and will also qualify for the 2019 AFC championships.
Hong Kong and Maldives are included in Group C together with China, Qatar, and Bhutan.
