Super-sub Siu Ki Chan headed home the match winner before a mere 1,000 spectators at the Bangabandhu National Stadium seven minutes from time as Bangladesh were dumped to the bottom of the group after two losses in as many games.

Chan, who came on to the pitch in place of Ho Man Chan on the hour, leapt high above Bangladeshi defenders Rajani and Titu to meet a long ball from the middle of the pitch and headed the ball past hapless goalkeeper Biplab who was otherwise brilliant in the game.

Both sides came to the game on the back first round defeats and Bangladesh, looking forward to wipe bitter memories of their last week's 5-0 drubbing in Uzbekistan, expectedly made two changes with Biplab replacing Aminul and Farhad starting as the striking partner of Alfaz in place of rookie Emily.

Bangladesh, who last won a home game against India in the SAFF Championship semifinal, got the first real chance but veteran Alfaz, set with a quickly taken freekick by skipper Joy, curved his left-footer wide at the far post.

Hong Kong made a slow start on a very hot day but threatened to take the lead five minutes later but their Cameroon-born midfielder Guy Ambassa rattled the crossbar inside from the box.

The visitors, who lost 3-0 to Qatar at home in the opening round, forced fine saves by Biplab who denied long range efforts from YL Chan and Ambassa before Bangladesh raised hopes of a comeback before a small 1,000 home fans.

Four minutes before halftime, Alfaz cut back the ball from right but hardworking Hong Kong midfielder Szeto cleared the low cross for a corner before Farhad could reach it. The corner almost broke the deadlock but Hong Kong keeper Fan pulled off a one-handed save on Arman's low drive.

Both the goalkeepers were working overtime after the break with Biplab making a reflex save on Ambassa's close-range header and his counterpart Fan flicking the ball over after Arman's freekick took a wicked drop in front of him.

However, fresh legs of Law and Chan helped Hong Kong to mount heavy pressure and both the substitutes wasted chances in the 77th minute. The pressure told six minutes later when the tight Bangladesh defence was outclassed by Chan's spectacular header.

Bangladesh captain Joy said after the match that they paid for missing the chances.

"Our strategy was to counter-attack. We had the chances but failed. On the other hand, one silly mistake cost us the match," Joy said at the post-match briefing.

Hasanuzzaman Babloo, the coach in charge in absence of Argentine Diego Cruciani who was banned for the game, thought that the players could not stick to the plan throughout the game.

"We are trying to adopt a new style under Cruciani. It would take some time to play perfectly. They tried to stick to the plan most of the time but lost cool under pressure," said Babloo.

" I hope when we play our next qualifier some months later, we will be a better side. Biplab and Rajani were superb. So were the two substitute Hong Kong forwards. They were the best players on the pitch and the Hong Kong coach decided to bring them in the second half as a surprise. He succeeded," added the former national winger.

Hong Kong's head coach Lai Sun Cheung was not satisfied with the 1-0 scoreline.

"We played slow in the first half and could not score early. We lost the ball too many times in the first half because it was too hot. But the boys really did well after the break," said Cheung.

"I think Bangladesh, a strong south Asian team, have improved in these four years. Their goalkeeper was very good and the two strikers really gave us trouble."

Yellow cards: Szeto (Hong Kong) and Farhad, Arman (Bangladesh).

TEAMS
Hong Kong: Fan, Sham, Lee (Man), Chiu, Poon, Lo (Law), Szeto, Ambassa, Cheung, YL Chan and HM Chan (Siu Chan).

Bangladesh: Biplab, Hassan Al Mamun, Sujan, Rajani, Titu, Arman (Ujjal), Joy, Aziz (Kanchan), Munna (Asad), Alfaz and Farhad.

Referee: Subrata Sarkar (India).