Hong Kong, China hosted against Bhutan at home in Hong Kong Stadium on Thursday night for the Preliminary Joint Qualification for the FIFA World Cup 2026 and AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027TM. Hong Kong, China beat Bhutan by 4:0.
Hong Kong, China hosted against Bhutan at home in Hong Kong Stadium on Thursday night for the Preliminary Joint Qualification for the FIFA World Cup 2026 and AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027TM. Hong Kong, China beat Bhutan by 4:0.
Hong Kong China football team got off to a flying start in the first round of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers. With a sensational brace from the 19-year-old youngster Michael Udebuluzor in the first half, coupled with an own goal from Bhutan and Shinichi Chan’s first international goal, they cruised to a resounding 4-0 victory over Bhutan in the first leg, taking a commanding lead.
Hong Kong kicked off the game aggressively and Everton Camargo's attempts were denied by the upright twice in just 10 minutes. However, on the 10th minute,Hong Kong broke the deadlock as Michael Udebuluzor skillfully headed in Wong Wai's corner kick, giving them a 1-0 lead.
Hong Kong doubled their lead on the 16th minute.Wong Wai delivered a sublime cross from the right flank, leaving Michael Udebuluzor unmarked in the box. With a powerful header, he found the back of the net, securing his second goal of the match and propelling Hong Kong to a commanding 2-0 lead. Bhutan finally found their first attempt on the 24th minute, but Dorji Sherub's strike from 25 yards out missed the target. Despite this, Hong Kong maintained control of the game and extended their lead on the 28th minute. Shinichi Chan expertly converted a one-on-one opportunity after receiving a brilliant long ball from Camargo Everton, making it 3-0.
Despite Chan Chiu Kwan's 32nd-minute header from Fernando's left-wing cross being spectacularly denied by the goalkeeper, Bhutan's Norbu Tenzin committed a disastrous own goal just 3 minutes later while trying to clear the ball. As a result,Hong Kong enjoyed a lead of 4:0.
Hong Kong still had a few scoring chances before halftime. Firstly, Everton unleashed a powerful strike that was brilliantly parried away by the goalkeeper. Later on,Wong Wai and Michael Udebuluzor combined with a one-two pass, breaking through the defense and taking a shot from a tight angle, only to be denied by the goalkeeper once again. Nonetheless,Hong Kong went into halftime with a convincing 4:0 lead. In the second half, Bhutan displayed a remarkable improvement, as they tightened their defense and denied Hong Kong any further opportunities. They even came close to finding the back of the net themselves, with Wangchuk Kinga's narrow-angle shot from the left side of the penalty area being acrobatically saved by the goalkeeper on the 50th minute.
Five minutes later, a powerful strike from Chogyal Lobzang at the edge of the penalty area rattled the crossbar, narrowly missing the back of the net.
Both teams failed to produce any significant threats until the 87th minute,Hong Kong seized their best chance of the second half. Substitute Matthew Or struck the post after connecting with a cross from the right flank. Shortly after, Ju Yingzhi attempted a shot from close range, but it was ultimately blocked by a defender in front of the goal-line. Finally,Hong Kong China football team emerged victorious with a resounding 4:0 triumph over Bhutan in the first leg of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers