DOHA: Hong Kong’s first Asian Cup match in over 55 years ended in a 3-1 defeat to the United Arab Emirates on Sunday, the returning minnows on the wrong end of three big VAR calls in Qatar.
Two of the UAE’s goals came from VAR-ruled penalties, while a late Hong Kong goal was chalked off after the referee checked the screen.
Coach Jorn Andersen warned his players before the game that the “gap is very big” between themselves and the continent’s footballing elite.
But there was no yawning gulf in class as the tournament’s lowest-ranked side kicked off their campaign.
In their first Asian Cup match since 1968, Hong Kong fell behind just after the half-hour mark.
Referee Muhammad Taqi was called to the pitch-side screen to rule on a possible handball in the box by Hong Kong defender Oliver Gerbig.
After a lengthy check, a penalty was given and duly converted by Sultan Adil.
Hong Kong levelled four minutes after the break, Philip Chan bundling home an Everton Camargo cross.
The UAE regained the lead almost instantly through Zayed Sultan as he slotted into an unguarded net.
With half an hour left, Andersen rolled the dice with an attacking double substitution, sending on forward Stefan Pereira and Michael Udebuluzor.
Hong Kong defender Li Ngai-hoi then survived another VAR scare, his tackle in the box ruled legal.
As the clock ticked down Hong Kong pushed for a second equalizer, their chances helped by the addition of 10 minutes’ stoppage time.
But after a third VAR check against them, the referee pointed once again to the spot and Yahya Al-Ghassani converted.
Hong Kong had the ball in the net one last time, but VAR intervened to deny them.
Group C also contains Palestine and Iran, who play in Sunday’s late game.
VAR calls help UAE spoil Hong Kong’s Asian Cup return
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VAR calls help UAE spoil Hong Kong’s Asian Cup return
- Game ended in a 3-1 defeat to the United Arab Emirates
Inter continue Scudetto march after Champions League humbling
- Milan will be favorites to win at Cremonese in Sunday’s early fixture, with the local rivals set to face off next weekend in a match which will in all likelihood have little impact on the destination of the Scudetto
MILAN, Italy: Inter Milan bounced back from Champions League elimination with Saturday’s 2-0 win over Genoa which continued their march toward the Serie A title.
Federico Dimarco’s brilliant volley just after the half-hour mark and Hakan Calhanoglu’s second-half penalty were enough for Inter to extend their already huge lead over AC Milan at the top of the table to 13 points.
Milan will be favorites to win at Cremonese in Sunday’s early fixture, with the local rivals set to face off next weekend in a match which will in all likelihood have little impact on the destination of the Scudetto.
Inter, whose fans unloaded a collection of anti-Milan chants in anticipation of the derby, have dropped just two points in 15 league matches and have been a cut above the rest in Italy’s top flight this season.
Their domestic dominance comes in stark contrast to the humiliating manner in which they were dumped out of the Champions League by Bodo/Glimt on Tuesday night.
A 5-2 aggregate defeat to the Norwegian minnows cast doubts over not just the quality of Cristian Chivu’s team but of Italian football as a whole.
There was plenty of quality in Dimarco’s opener however, the Italy full-back beautifully placing a first-time finish from a tight angle after exchanging passes with Henrikh Mkhitaryan.
Little else happened in a humdrum encounter until Alex Amorim handled a cross from Luis Henrique, whose shot had been tipped onto the post just moments before.
Calhanoglu calmly stroked home the spot-kick on his return to action following niggling muscle problems which have caused him issues since before Christmas, sealing the points for Inter.
Big Rom back
Romelu Lukaku kept Napoli on course for a Champions League spot with a last-gasp winner in the champions’ 2-1 victory over rock-bottom Verona, the Belgium forward’s first goal of the season.
Lukaku forced home Giovane’s cross to snatch the win for third-placed Napoli with the last kick of the game at the Stadio Marcantonio Bentegodi.
Napoli had looked like dropping points in northern Italy when Jean-Daniel Akpa Akpro levelled Rasmus Hojlund’s early opener in the 65th minute.
But Lukaku, who only played his first game of the season in late January, gave Napoli a huge win with both Como and Atalanta pushing for a top-four placing.
“I was a dead player before coming here,” said Lukaku to DAZN.
“This season has been difficult, but we’ve got to aim high.”
Napoli’s title defense is all but over as they trail Inter by 14 points after an injury-ravaged season.
Napoli were missing key midfielders Scott McTominay, Kevin De Bruyne and Andre-Frank Anguissa on Saturday, as well as captain Giovanni Di Lorenzo.
Verona, under interim coach Paolo Sammarco following the sacking of Paolo Zanetti earlier this month, are 10 points from safety after a 12th straight match without a win.
Como, who face Inter in the first leg of the Italian Cup semifinals on Tuesday, strolled to 3-1 victory over strugglers Lecce to continue their push for a first-ever qualification for European football.
Cesc Fabregas’s team are two points behind Roma, in fourth and Juventus’ opponents on Sunday, and five behind Napoli.
Como are also two points ahead of sixth-placed Juve who face Roma trying to stay in touch with the Champions League places after being eliminated from Europe’s elite club competition by Galatasaray on Wednesday.
