Hong Kong Under-23 Representative Team squared off against Japan on Thursday afternoon in J-Village, Futaba-Gun, Fukushima, Japan for the final AFC U23 Asian Cup Uzbekistan Qualifiers Group K fixture. Hong Kong put on a brave fight on the day but succumbed to a talented Japanese side through a 0:4 defeat.

Barely five minutes in the game, Hong Kong caught Japan napping and had a great chance to open the score. Jordan Lam broke behind the Japanese defense with the ball and dashed into the box. The Hong Kong attacker unloaded a running shot from the left side but sent the ball over the crossbar.

Japan went on and took the lead on the 13^th minute. Taiga Hata did well on the left side and knocked a dangerous cross into the Hong Kong penalty area. Shota Fujio connected with the ball and sent it home through a timely header. Japan was up with an early lead.

Moments later, Japan came close once again. This time, Daiki Matsuoka unloaded a cracking drive from outside the Hong Kong box, only to be nicely handled by goalkeeper Tse Ka-wing.

Hong Kong almost fell behind on the 27^th minute. Joel Fujita’s long-range drive was paved away by Hong Kong goalkeeper Tse Ka-wing. Shota Fujio went for the rebound but saw his header smartly saved by the Hong Kong custodian as well.

Japan tested the Hong Kong defense once again on the 45^th minute, as Yuito Suzuki’s sublime free-kick was brilliantly paved away by Tse Ka-wing in the Hong Kong goal.

The first half eventually wrapped up with Hong Kong behind 0:1.

Hong Kong conceded a quick goal early in the second half. On the 49^th minute, Shota Fujio connected with a teammate’s cross and headed the ball home from the Hong Kong box. It was a well-taken header by the Japanese striker. Hong Kong was down by two goals.

Japan added another goal on the 63^rd minute. This time, Yuta Goke found himself on the receiving end of a teammate’s forward pass, powered his way into the Hong Kong box, fought off pressure by a Hong Kong player and smashed the ball home. Hong Kong was trailing by three goals at this point.

Hong Kong rolled up its sleeves and battle, hoping to get on the scoreboard. On the 70^th minute, Sohgo Ichikawa flashed out some neat moves down the left wing, before pulling a tight-angle strike that went over the crossbar.

On the 80^th minute, it was Hong Kong once again. Chan Shinichi’s well delivered corner-kick picked out teammate Jesse Yu at the front-post. The latter dished out a leaping header but sent the ball wide off target.

Late in the game, Japan expanded on its lead, as Mao Hosoya drove down the middle and capped things off with a powerful strike that found the back of the Hong Kong net. Hong Kong was down 0:4 at this point.

The score eventually stood towards the final whistle, as Hong Kong fell short to Japan by 0:4 on the day, concluding the AFC U23 Asian Cup Uzbekistan Qualifiers Group K fixtures with two losses from two group matches.