Hong Kong national team call-ups for Kitchee’s Champions League heroes as crucial North Korea clash draws near

Tarres and Tong of Kitchee called up for Hong Kong’s do-or-die tie against North Korea with teammate Cheng overlooked

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Kitchee’s Tong Kin-man has been drafted into the Hong Kong national team for their crucial Asian Cup qualifier against North Korea this week. Photo: Winson Wong

Published: 1:16pm, 19 Mar 2018Updated: 10:56pm, 19 Mar 2018

Kitchee striker Jorge Tarres and defender Tong Kin-man have won places in the Hong Kong national team after helping their club to a first ever AFC Champions League victory for a Hong Kong team – but goalscorer Cheng Chin-lun was overlooked.

The trio were not in the preliminary 31-member list announced for Hong Kong’s must win tie against North Korea next week in the Asian Cup qualifiers. But Tarres and Tong made irresistible claims in the historic 1-0 victory over visitors Kashiwa Reysol of Japan last Wednesday.

Jorges Tarres will also be among the Hong Kong squad for the trip to Pyongyang. Photo: David Wong

Cheng, who scored the wining goal with a fantastic 20-metre strike, which also won the Asian Champions League goal of the week, did not make it despite becoming a fan favourite.

One netizen said Hong Kong would have already qualified and defeated group leaders Jeonbuk Motors of South Korea if they had Cheng in the line-up.

The 23-member squad will travel to Beijing on Wednesday for a training camp before taking on North Korea in Pyongyang next Tuesday in their last group B match.

Hong Kong can still make it to the finals in the United Arab Emirates if they can pull off a famous victory at Kim Il-sung Stadium.