Hong Kong defender Lo Kwan Yee. (Photo : Getty Images)
Lowly team Maldives (1-4-0, 3 points) will play Hong Kong (3-1-1, 10 points) on Thursday, November 12th at the National Football Stadium in Malé for a Group C match as the AFC 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifying tournament moves forward.
Maldives was routed by group leader Qatar, 0-4, at the Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium in Doha last October 13, as reported by ESPN.
Qatari winger Boualem Khoukhi had a double at the 28th and 70th-minute marks while center back Mohammed Kasola and defender Mohammed Musa each added one goal at the 69th and 90th+2 minutes en route to the Red Snappers' crushing defeat.
Maldives' only win so far in the tourney is the 4-3 nipping of winless squad Bhutan at the Changlimithang Stadium in Thimphu last October 8 when Maldivian forward Ali Ashfaq pulled off a hat trick.
Meanwhile, Hong Kong sneaked past Bhutan, 1-0, also at the Changlimithang Stadium last October 13 for their third win in five games, via Fox Sports Asia.
Striker Chan Siu Ki scored the winner one minute before full time to save the three points for the visitors and move Kim Pan-Gon's side up to second place in Group C.
A crucial and controversial match versus China after this contest with Maldives awaits Hong Kong on November 17 at their home field of Mong Kok Stadium.
The predicted result is a 2-0 conquest for Hong Kong. Pan-Gon's boys are much stronger and experienced than Ricki Herbert's squad and would be a shoo-in for the win unless they become overconfident and take the Red Snappers lightly at their home turf.
Maldives starting lineup (4-2-3-1 formation): Mohamed; Shifan, Ghanee, Ahmed, Waheed; Arif, Umair, Mohamed, Ali; Ashfaq, Adhuham
Hong Kong starting lineup (4-3-3 formation): Yapp; Lee, Kilama, Lo, Cheung; Bai, Lam, Ju; Chan, Xu, McKee
