Hong Kong boss Andersen admits gap between side and World Cup rivals is ‘too big’, laments lack of strike threat
- Limited home side comfortably beaten by Uzbekistan in World Cup qualifier at Mong Kok Stadium on Thursday
- Hong Kong now travel to Tashkent for return leg on Tuesday missing striker Everton Camargo and defender Helio Goncalves
Jorn Andersen acknowledged Hong Kong had encountered a gulf that was “too big” in their World Cup qualifying defeat by Uzbekistan on Thursday.
But any disappointment over the two “easy goals” his side conceded had been tempered by another ferociously competitive performance, the head coach said.
The fans who packed Mong Kok Stadium stayed long after full-time to salute their team, but as they drifted away, Andersen revealed the unenviable task he has to try to bridge the cavernous gap when the teams meet again in Tashkent on Tuesday.
Forward Everton Camargo will miss the match because of an Achilles problem, while defender Helio Goncalves has opted out for ‘personal reasons’.
That leaves Andersen with just three fit centre-backs, after Leon Jones failed to overcome a shoulder problem in time to make the trip to the Uzbek capital.
Camargo was a peripheral figure in Thursday’s game, and Andersen revealed the 32-year-old took painkillers to play, but was “a little bit handicapped”. The Brazil-born player will be replaced by North District’s Jordan Lam Lok-kan, who will be the 11th player in the squad to have been part of the historic semi-final run at the Asian Games.
