Match-day 3 of the EAFF E-1 Football Championship 2017 Round 2 HONG KONG Women’s Tournament opened with hosts Hong Kong winning 1-0 over a resilient Guam at the Hong Kong Football Club.

The first chance of the match came in the ninth minute, when CHEUNG Wai Ki’s well-aimed shot from distance was effortlessly caught by GARRIDO Sophia.

With the home crowd cheering them on, the lone goal of the match arrived in the 13th minute when Guam’s HOOVER Kaycee accidentally kicked the ball toward her own net while attempting to clear CHAN Wing Sze’s cross, allowing CHEUNG to rush in and score from close range.

Six minute later, CHEUNG had a chance to net her second of the day but this time her shot went wide of the target.

WONG So Han came close to doubling Hong Kong’s lead in the 22nd minute with her long-range shot from outside the penalty area, but her effort clanged off the crossbar to save GARRIDO blushes.

Guam’s NADEN Colleen had a chance to equalise with less than three minutes remaining in the first half when she rushed past the defenders and into the final third, but goalkeeper LEUNG Wai Nga slid to save from close range and preserve her team’s lead heading into the interval.

The tempo of the match decreased in the second half, with both teams struggling in Hong Kong heat that reached 30 degrees. CHEUNG continued to prowl for a second goal, sending a low arc straight to GARRIDO in the 57th minute

GARRIDO did well to defend another low cross in the 69th minute, denying what would have been an empty-net chance for LEE Wing Yan.

In the 74th minute, the crowd was heartbroken when KWONG Wing Yan’s close-range attempt hit the crossbar.

SURBER Paige mounted a last-gasp attempt to create an equaliser in the 90th minute, but her cross from deep down the left flank was easily handled by LEUNG.

The referee blew the final whistle after three minutes of added time, giving Hong Kong their first win of the tournament and a third-place finish overall, while winless Guam could take heart in improved performances against all three of their opponents compared to the EAFF East Asian Cup 2015 Round 2 Chinese Taipei holding in 2014.

By Cesare Polenghi (twitter)