East Asian Football Championship: Hong Kong improve but lose to South Korea
In a much more compact, disciplined and pragmatic display than they served up in losing 6-1 to Japan three days earlier, however, the city team gave their passionate travelling supporters reason to believe for next Tuesday's winnable clash with China.
For the hosts, this was a second successive competition victory, and 16th unbeaten match in a row, after they swatted aside the Chinese 3-0 on Monday.
Like Japan, the Koreans used their meeting with underdogs Hong Kong to introduce new blood.
Hong Myung-bo, the head coach, changed his entire starting 11, handing debuts to five players, and first starts to another four, who were all making only their second appearances after coming off the bench against China.
Unlike Japan, however, South Korea ran into a Hong Kong team in obdurate mood. Out of possession, the visitors strung six players across the back, while the advanced four created a bottleneck in the middle.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
South China Morning Post
an hour ago
- South China Morning Post
Hot Antoine Hamelin finishes with a flourish: ‘I've become a better person for being here'
Jockey Antoine Hamelin admits to feeling sad whenever he thinks about his imminent Hong Kong departure, but it's certainly been nothing but smiles and celebrations on the racetrack as the Frenchman finishes his five-year stint in the city with a flourish. Victorious at three of the past four meetings, Hamelin will say farewell to Sha Tin this Sunday before signing off at Happy Valley next Wednesday. 'I'm feeling OK, not too bad, but when I think about it I'm very sad. When I met my friends for a farewell it was very sad, but it was good to see everyone before I go,' he said. 'It's always better to leave like this,' he added of his strong form, which has seen a quarter of his 12 winners this season come in the past two weeks. 'Some trainers have given me support before I go, which I really appreciate, and I've managed to get the horses who are in good form. Everything has gone quite smoothly recently, so I'm not complaining.' Hamelin has five chances to continue his hot run this weekend, headlined by last-start winner Rising From Ashes in the Class Three All You Wish Handicap (1,400m) and Beauty Missile in the Class Four Victory Marvel Handicap (1,200m). 'I really like Rising From Ashes, who won really well last time and is in good form. He looks good,' said Hamelin. 'The other horses there are a few question marks. Beauty Missile has gate 14, so it's not going to be easy, but I would really love to win with him before I go. He's in my heart and I always enjoy riding him. He's always trying really hard but it is hard to win with him.' Hamelin's overall Hong Kong win tally has risen to 111 in recent weeks and it's his scarcely believable five-timer at Sha Tin in January 2021 that is burnt into his memory. 'I have a lot of good memories and of course the highlight is five winners in a day. That was amazing, crazy. I still remember it like it was yesterday,' he said. 'I have a lot of good memories and not only from racing. I have met a lot of good people here. It's been nice to work with jockeys from everywhere on the planet. It's one of the best jockey rooms in the world. That's how you learn – with the best around you. 'I also learned a lot from the trainers. It's very different from my country. I think I've become a better person for being here for five years. I have learned a lot.' Hamelin is also confident he will return to France a better rider and he won't be wasting any time, eyeing the Deauville meeting in early August as a likely kick-off point. 'I won't be starting from zero but almost. There are new trainers and old trainers who have retired, but I'm not worried because my manager is waiting for me and we always did a great job together. I'm sure we'll do well,' he said. 'I'm better than when I left so some doors will open and I think it's going to be OK. The target will be to get back in the top 10 in France like I used to be, then I will be happy.'
South China Morning Post
an hour ago
- South China Morning Post
Title races go down to the wire as Derek Leung looks to strike a Tony Cruz Award blow
Derek Leung still has a chance to win the Tony Cruz Award. Photos: Kenneth Chan It is now or never for Derek Leung Ka-chun as he looks to Beauty Joy to be the catalyst to spark his fading Tony Cruz Award hopes back to life at Sha Tin on Sunday. The 36-year-old is in a three-way shoot-out for the local riders' premiership, with Matthew Poon Ming-fai leading the way on 36 and Matthew Chadwick sitting second on 34. Leung has two meetings to claw back three winners to draw level with Poon, with his Sunday book of eight rides looking the strongest of the trio. He rides Beauty Joy in the feature Class One Hong Kong Racehorse Owners Association Trophy (1,600m), with the Tony Cruz-trained eight-year-old looking to back up a last-start win in the Group Three Premier Plate (1,800m). The old boy, Beauty Joy! 🫡 Tony Cruz's 8YO wins the season's final Group race, the G3 Premier Plate, with @brentonavdulla at Sha Tin... @Beautystablehk #SummerSeries | #HKracing — HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) June 22, 2025 Ridden that day by Brenton Avdulla, he surged down the middle of the track and went from almost last to first, beating several reopposing horses including last year's winner Chancheng Glory. Leung also rides Rainbow Seven, who has finished in the top three in all of his racecourse starts, in the Class Four Victory Marvel Handicap (1,200m), and Smart Fat Cat, who has surged home in both his starts so far and is a leading chance in the Class Four Medic Kingdom Handicap (1,400m). Of his rivals, Poon's best chance comes in the form of debut winner Voyage Boss, who had excuses last start and is a big shout in the Class Four Medic Kingdom Handicap (1,400m), while Chadwick will be hoping a rejuvenated Devas Twelve can provide him with a winner in the Class Four Pingwu Spark Handicap (1,400m). John Size holds all the aces in the trainers' premiership race. HK Racing News Get updates direct to your inbox Sign up Best Bets Racing News By registering you agree to our T&Cs & Privacy Policy Error: Please enter a valid email. The email address is already in use. Please login to subscribe. Error, please try again later. THANK YOU You are one the list. Heading into Sha Tin, John Size holds a likely insurmountable six-win lead over David Hayes in the trainers' premiership race, with both holding leading chances in many of Sunday's races. Size has a trio in the feature Hong Kong Racehorse Owners Association Trophy thanks to Beauty Eternal, Bundle Award and Young Champion, though Mickley – who was second in the Class Two Hong Kong Reunification Cup (1,400m) – looks to be his best chance on the card down in grade for the Class Three Sight Winner Handicap (1,600m). Awesome Treasure, armed with Britney Wong Po-ni's 10lb claim, looks to be Hayes' best chance in the Class Four Big Profit Handicap (1,200m) from a good draw in stall five.
South China Morning Post
3 hours ago
- South China Morning Post
Hong Kong defender targets historic win to break 40-year drought against China
Leon Jones has urged Hong Kong to finish their East Asian Championship campaign in historic style when they meet China on Tuesday. Hong Kong were rigid and determined in a 2-0 loss to hosts South Korea on Friday, three days after failing to do themselves justice in a heavy 6-1 defeat by Japan. Centre-back Jones credited a change of structure for 'making us more competitive' and said a first meaningful meeting with the Chinese since 2022 was 'a chance, against good opposition, to show what we can do'. Hong Kong beat China 2-1 in a behind-closed-doors friendly on New Year's Day last year, but May 19 marked the 40th anniversary of the city team's only competitive success against their mainland rivals: a 2-1 World Cup qualifying win in Beijing. 'A lot of people feel strongly about the Hong Kong team, and China is a big derby game; a big rivalry,' Jones said. Former Scotland youth international Leon Jones strides forward during Hong Kong's 2-0 loss to South Korea. Photo: HKFA 'I know it means a lot to our travelling support, and to the fans back in Hong Kong.
