For long periods, Hong Kong suffocated Iran, who could not catch their breath in the face of their opponents’ furious hounding, tackling, and chasing.
It was a performance that underlined the impact head coach Andersen has had on the city’s national team over two years in charge. There was a time not long ago when Hong Kong would have treated this assignment with utmost caution.
At a vibrant Khalid International Stadium, their bold approach should have had them level at the midway point. Hong Kong had two fabulous first-half opportunities, both gift-wrapped by their opponents’ defensive mistakes.
On 17 minutes, Roozbeh Cheshmi’s hurried ball from defence was cut out by a fast-retreating Sun Ming-him. The ball flew to Everton Camargo, who found himself staring down goalkeeper Alireza Beiranvand.
By the time Camargo skirted Berianvand’s challenge, four defenders had stationed themselves between him and the goal. Camargo’s attempt from 12 yards cleared the bar by a distance.
Mehdi Taremi was the culprit when Iran presented the ball to Hong Kong five minutes from the break.
Sun, into the team along with Vas Nunez, was the recipient, and promptly chipped a speculative ball over the top. Milad Mohammadi sliced an attempted clearance high and towards his own goal, and Beiranvand dashed back to hook out the dropping ball.
When it fell for Philip Chan Siu-kwan, the goalscorer in Sunday’s loss to United Arab Emirates sliced a golden opportunity tamely into Beiranvand’s hands.
That 24 minutes had elapsed before the world’s 21st best team had a shot on target against the side ranked 150 was indicative of Hong Kong’s improvement since they were two down at the same point against Iran in a World Cup qualifier two months ago.
Mohammadi sped forward to set up Ghayedi, who slid his finish from left of centre through the legs of Nunez and into the far corner.
The demonstrative Andersen was apoplectic, probably because of the space afforded Ghayedi to pick his spot.
But this was a night when people kept their word. Iran head coach Amir Ghaloeni pledged to make changes, and there were five in his starting 11; he began removing bodies drained by trying to keep pace with Hong Kong on 65 minutes.
Andersen’s team fulfilled their manager’s vow to play with aggression and purpose. Their supporters among a crowd of 36,412 started chanting inside two minutes, and did not stop all night.
Yapp Hung-fai was given vocal acclaim when he made a terrific stop from a Taremi header late in the opening half, and he was on hand again on 72 minutes, tumbling to his right to keep out Rezaeian’s dipping free kick.
Andersen duly sent on attackers Stefan Pereira and Michael Udebuluzor, along with midfielder Wong Wai, withdrawing Sun, Philip Chan and Matt Orr.
An unmarked Rezaeian wasted a chance to kill off Hong Kong when he missed from 10 yards, and with chances drying up at the other end, Andersen introduced forwards Marcus Chang Hei-yin and Poon Pui-hin for the seven minutes of added time.
Hong Kong could not capitalise on a succession of set pieces, and at full-time a handful of bodies dressed in red sank to the turf.
Their heartbreak after losing to one of the tournament favourites was another indication of the shift in Hong Kong’s belief and ambition. They will need those qualities in buckets against Palestine next week.
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