On March 24th 2016, the Hong Kong national team will play their final group game away in Doha, Qatar. Their hosts have already qualified for the next stage and depending on how the game pans out then Hong Kong’s tumultuous and historical run will either end in respect and kudos or continue onto uncharted territory beyond the expectations of all who have observed the national team for the past few years. Interest in the team has reached levels never seen before and tickets for a game have been the hottest thing in town.
Hong Kong’s home games have all been held in the ‘cauldron’ of MongKok Stadium with a frenzied wall of noise urging the home team forward. Regardless if they win, draw or lose away in Qatar, Hong Kong sports fans may never experience evenings quite like these ever again.
Offside.hk and their team of photographers have captured these magical moments and the highlights are as below.
Qatar Versus Hong Kong will be broadcast by free-to-air TV station TVB. Kick Off: Thursday, March 24th (Midnight – Friday Morning),
Photos by William Wong, JRP Borthwick, Christopher KL Lau, Ryan Kam. Originals are available upon request.
- China Captain Zheng Zhi – Press Conference Pre Hong Kong Game – Christopher KL Lau
- China goalkeeper Wang Dalei Joins the Attack – Hong Kong Versus China – William Wong
- Fleet of Foot – Christopher KL Lau
- Paulinho against China – William Wong
- Press Conference – Hong Kong Versus China – Christopher KL Lau
- Team Huddles- Hong Kong Versus China – Christopher KL Lau
- The Comeback against Qatar as Karikari scores – Ryan Kam
- Huge Police Presence at the China Game – Christopher KL Lau
- One Minute Silence Pre China Game – Ryan Kam
- Fans Cheer into the Night – JRP Borthwick
- Jaimes McKee Against China – Christopher KL Lau
- Jaimes McKee goes close against Bhutan – Ryan Kam
- Jaimes McKee Hits the Bar against China – JRP Borthwick
- Yapp Makes a Friend – Christopher KL Lau
- The comeback is on… – Christopher KL Lau
- Relentless against Qatar – JRP Borthwick
- Jaimes McKee Scores against Bhutan – Christopher KL Lau
- Acknowledging the ’12th’ man / woman / child – William Wong
- The Hong Kong faithful – Ryan Kam
- National Anthem against China – Christopher KL Lau
- Jaimes McKee against Bhutan – Christopher KL Lau
- Fan Protests – Christopher KL Lau
- Lap of Honour – JRP Borthwick
- Hong Kong passionate Fans – JRP Borthwick
- Scrambling to get the game started again – JRP Borthwick
- First Goal by Bai He against Qatar – Ryan Kam
- Celebrating the second goal against Qatar – Ryan Kam
- Brothers in Arms as Lam Ka Wai and Karikari celebrate against the Maldives – Christopher KL Lau
- Xu Deshuai goal against Maldives – JRP Borthwick
- Xu Deshuai celebrates his goal against Maldives – JRP Borthwick
- Celebrating the Second Goal against Maldives – JRP Borthwick
- Penalty against Bhutan – Ryan Kam
- Heart for Hong Kong – Ryan Kam
- Disallowed Goal Against China – Christopher KL Lau
- Die for Hong Kong – Ryan Kam
- The “Power of Hong Kong” – Ryan Kam
- Saluting the Crowd – Christopher KL Lau
- China go Close against Hong Kong – William Wong
- China’s Wang Dalei prays for a goal as time runs out against Hong Kong – William Wong
- Hong Kong players are happy with the draw against China – William Wong
