Guam met Hong Kong, China at Hong Kong Stadium on Tuesday night (17th December) for the EAFF E-1 Football Championship Preliminary Competition 2024 (Final) fixture. Hong Kong, China beat Guam by 5:0 and became the champion of EAFF E-1 Football Championship Preliminary Competition 2024.
In a commanding display at Hong Kong Stadium on Tuesday (December 17th), Hong Kong,China clinched the EAFF E-1 Football Championship 2024 Preliminary Competition 2024(Final) with a resounding 5:0 victory over Guam.
The hosts wasted no time asserting their dominance, breaking the deadlock in the second minute. Chan Siu Kwan Philip rose majestically to meet a pinpoint free-kick delivery from Everton Camargo on the right flank, powering his header past the helpless Guam goalkeeper.
Hong Kong,China's attacking prowess was evident again in the 6th minute when the dynamic Nicolas Benavides, after collecting a precise through ball from Fernando Augusto, cut inside from the left flank but saw his effort sail over the crossbar.
The relentless pressure paid dividends in the 12th minute as Hong Kong,China doubled their advantage. The industrious Everton Camargo, causing havoc down the right wing, whipped in a dangerous cross that Nicolas Benavides met with a clinical first-time finish from close range, making it 2:0.
The home side continued their siege on Guam's goal, with Matthew Orr unleashing a thunderous drive following a half-cleared ball in the 16th minute. Moments later, Nicolas Benavides squandered another opportunity, failing to hit the target after being expertly picked out by Wong Wai.
Guam's only notable attempt of the first half came in the 37th minute when Anthoy Quidachay Jr attempted an ambitious effort from distance that failed to trouble Yapp Hung Fai.
As the first half drew to a close, Everton Camargo's sweetly-struck free-kick from range whistled just over the crossbar, leaving the score at 2:0 heading into the interval.
Hong Kong,China emerged from the break with renewed vigor, Fernando Augusto nearly adding a third with a spectacular left-footed effort that narrowly missed the target.
The floodgates opened in the 50th minute when the fleet-footed Ng Yu Hei bamboozled his marker on the left before delivering an inch-perfect cross for Everton Camargo to slot home Hong Kong,China's third.
The rampant hosts extended their lead further in the 53rd minute through a brilliant piece of wing play. Everton Camargo showcased his blistering pace to beat his defender before delivering a sublime cross that Chan Siu Kwan Philip expertly converted for his second of the match.
Everton Camargo continued to terrorize Guam's defense, first firing over after a mazy run in the 57th minute, before providing another teasing cross that Chan Siu Kwan Philip headed wide.
The scoring was completed in the 78th minute when Yu Joy Yin Jesse's perfectly weighted corner found Luis Eduardo, who showed great determination to power home a header through a forest of bodies.
Both sides had opportunities in the dying minutes, with Everton Camargo coming close to adding further gloss to the scoreline, while Guam's James Gomes was denied in a one-on-one situation by the alert Yapp Hung Fai.
This emphatic victory not only secured Hong Kong,China's qualification for the EAFF E-1 Football Championship 2025 Finals in Korea, but also extended their remarkable winning streak to six international matches.