Jørn Andersen new Hong Kong NT Coach ?

Norwegian tv station TV 2 reporting that Jørn Andersen could be the new Hong Kong National Team coach.

https://www.tv2.no/sport/9769431/

DPR Korea seal UAE 2019 ticket

Needing just a point to guarantee their progress to next January’s finals, first half goals from Jong Il-gwan and Pak Kwang-ryong sent DPR Korea on their way to collecting all three points and ending Hong Kong’s hopes in the process.


Hong Kong needed to win to qualify for the Finals for the first time since 1968, but the visitors’ hopes were hit early by the loss of defender Helio Goncalves, who was replaced just 11 minutes into the game by Tong Kin-man after sustaining a knee injury.

The home side took command just seven minutes later when Jong’s strike beat Hong Kong’s Yapp Hung-fai from 25 yards, with the Hong Kong goalkeeper unable to keep the ball out despite putting a hand on the shot.

Six minutes later DPR Korea doubled their advantage when left back Kim Chol-bom drilled the ball across the Hong Kong goal and Pak was on hand to steer his shot home from six yards out.

Hong Kong finally sparked into life, with Alex Akande sending a pair of efforts just off target in the minutes before the half-time break, while second half substitute Lam Ka-wai gave the visitors some encouragement after his introduction.

Liu Chun-fai’s side was unable to find a way through the well-drilled DPR Korea defence and, with a little more than 10 minutes remaining, Ri Yong-jik almost added a third for the hosts only for his long-distance lob to just miss the target.

It mattered little, however, as Andersen’s side closed out the game to give the Norwegian a victorious send-off in his final game as coach as the country secured their qualification for next year’s Finals.

http://www.the-afc.com/news/afcsection/dpr-korea-seal-uae-2019-ticket

Photos: Hong Kong Football Association

Group B Preview: DPR Korea, Hong Kong eye the big prize

DPR Korea sit in second place in Group B behind already-qualified Lebanon and three points ahead of Hong Kong meaning a draw will be enough for the east Asian nation to secure a spot at the Finals for the third tournament in a row.

“After almost two years as national team coach for the DPRK, we will play the last AFC Asian Cup qualifying match against Hong Kong on Tuesday,” said the Norwegian. “It will also be the last match for me as coach of this team.

“My contract will finish on March 31 and I will leave the country, so we hope for victory and a positive finish.

“After playing a very good tournament in December in Tokyo in the East Asian Championships, we have seen that this DPRK team is almost at the same level as Japan and Korea Republic, the best teams in Asia.

“My team has taken a big step and they have a lot of confidence ahead of this match against Hong Kong.”

The two nations met in Hong Kong in June with the teams sharing the points in a 1-1 draw at Hong Kong Stadium. 

That, coupled with a narrow win over Hong Kong in the qualifying rounds for the East Asian Championship in 2016, has ensured Andersen is not underestimating Tuesday’s opponents.

“I think after the last two matches against Hong Kong, the teams know each other well,” he said. “We know that Hong Kong have a good team with many foreign players, who are physically very strong.

“Also, we know the situation for us is very good. If we don’t lose the game we will qualify for UAE 2019.

Hong Kong are attempting to secure a spot at the Finals for the first time since 1968 and have travelled to Pyongyang without Tan Chun Lok and Sandro, who are both suspended.

But striker Jordi Tarres is available after shaking off an injury and the Kitchee man believes the team will have no issues with the cooler conditions or the pitch at the Kim Il-sung Stadium.

“We have started to get used to the style of artificial grass we will find in DPR Korea and we are focused on the game and have been preparing as well as possible from the first day,” said Tarres.

“I prefer it being a little bit colder rather than the heat. When you have to run, the heat is worse but when it’s eight or 10 degrees then you feel as a player more comfortable, so that’s good.

“I think the game will be like a chess game. We need to read the game and put on the pitch what we need. 

"We need to avoid conceding a goal early in the game and try to keep a clean sheet and then be patient. 

"I’m sure we will have several chances and we need to take these chances and come back happy to Hong Kong.”

http://www.the-afc.com/competitions/afc-asian-cup/latest/news/group-b-preview-dpr-korea-hong-kong-eye-the-big-prize