DOHA: Hong Kong’s first Asian Cup match in over 55 years ended in a 3-1 defeat to the United Arab Emirates on Sunday, the returning minnows on the wrong end of three big VAR calls in Qatar.

Two of the UAE’s goals came from VAR-ruled penalties, while a late Hong Kong goal was chalked off after the referee checked the screen.

Coach Jorn Andersen warned his players before the game that the “gap is very big” between themselves and the continent’s footballing elite.

But there was no yawning gulf in class as the tournament’s lowest-ranked side kicked off their campaign.

In their first Asian Cup match since 1968, Hong Kong fell behind just after the half-hour mark.

Referee Muhammad Taqi was called to the pitch-side screen to rule on a possible handball in the box by Hong Kong defender Oliver Gerbig.

After a lengthy check, a penalty was given and duly converted by Sultan Adil.

Hong Kong levelled four minutes after the break, Philip Chan bundling home an Everton Camargo cross.

The UAE regained the lead almost instantly through Zayed Sultan as he slotted into an unguarded net.

With half an hour left, Andersen rolled the dice with an attacking double substitution, sending on forwards Stefan Pereira and Michael Udebuluzor.

Hong Kong defender Li Ngai-hoi then survived another VAR scare, his tackle in the box ruled legal.

As the clock ticked down Hong Kong pushed for a second equaliser, their chances helped by the addition of 10 minutes’ stoppage time.

But after a third VAR check against them, the referee pointed once again to the spot and Yahya Al-Ghassani converted.

Hong Kong had the ball in the net one last time, but VAR intervened to deny them.

Earlier, Japan came from behind to beat Vietnam 4-2 in their Group ‘D’ opener in a thrilling encounter at the Al Thumama Stadium where five goals were scored in the first half and Takumi Minamino grabbed a brace.

Japan, four-times champions who last won the Asian Cup in 2011, were shocked into action when Vietnam took a 2-1 lead before the Samurai Blue cut their south-east Asian opponents down to size with two goals just before halftime.

“I know people in Japan wanted to see a game where we overcome our opponents with great power, but opening games in tournaments are always difficult and that’s what we saw today,” Japan coach Hajime Moriyasu told reporters.

“When we lost the lead in the first half the players were very calm, they knew they had the whole 90 minutes to play for the win. They managed to do that in the end of the first half.”

Vietnam’s initial resistance when the game kicked off lasted all of 10 minutes before Japan scored, with Minamino being in the right place at the right time to pounce on a rebound and guide it through a crowd of players into the net.

But Vietnam shocked Japan with an equaliser five minutes later from a corner when Nguyen Dinh Bac — running away from goal — directed a glancing header that looped over the keeper and into the net at the far post.

As the game opened up and with both sides creating chances, it was Vietnam who took the lead from another set piece when Bui Hoang Anh headed the cross to the far post where Japan keeper Zion Suzuki failed to deal with it and Pham Tuan Hai fired home.

In Saturday’s late match, Uzbekistan and Syria played out a 0-0 draw to earn a point each in their Group ‘B’ clash.

Published in Dawn, January 15th, 2024