Inter Miami’s pre-season tour goes on this Sunday as they face off against a team of top players from Hong Kong’s second division in a friendly match at Hong Kong Stadium.
This marks the first time since 2019 that players from Hong Kong’s second-highest league will participate in a showcase game, while the Herons are still getting ready for their next Major League Soccer (MLS) season, following a 6-0 loss to Al- Nassr in their latest pre-season game.
Match preview
As the Hong Kong First Division League continues this weekend, a select group of players will have the privilege of representing the league in a special match on Sunday.
Some of these players were part of the Hong Kong national team at the Asian Cup earlier this year. Despite losing all three group games, they proved competitive against some strong regional teams.
Jorn Andersen led the national team to its first Asian Cup in over 50 years (since 1968), and the 60-year-old Norwegian will coach this second-tier all-star team on Sunday.
The last time these league players faced a non-Asian club was in the 2019 Lunar New Year Cup. They performed well, only losing in the semi-finals to Sagan Tosu, a team with former World Cup champion Fernando Torres, in a penalty shootout .
That year, the Hong Kong players managed a small victory, winning 1-0 against Auckland City for third place in the tournament held in their home country.
Though these league players come together only occasionally, it’s worth noting that the Hong Kong XI hasn’t lost in regular time since a 4-0 defeat at the 2016 Lunar New Year Cup against a team of international players.
This Sunday will be the first time this all-star team plays a friendly against a North American club.
Despite not making the MLS Cup playoffs in 2023, expectations for Inter Miami are high as they gear up for the new season.
Adding Lionel Messi mid-last season didn’t push them into the playoffs, but he played a key role in winning their first-ever trophy, the Leagues Cup, last year.
With a full season ahead and a strong team, winning the MLS Cup is their goal for 2024.
Although it’s hard to gauge much from friendly matches, Tata Martino’s team is currently struggling, with no wins in their last four pre-season games and failing to score in three of those.
Their recent 6-goal loss to Al-Nassr was the most they’ve ever conceded in a single game, whether in pre-season or competitive play.
Since their first MLS season in 2020, the Herons have always won at least one pre-season game, and they have only three more chances to maintain that streak.
Hong Kong XI friendly form:
LW
Inter Miami friendly form:
LLL
Inter Miami form (all competitions):
LDLLLL
Team News
Yapp Hung Fai and Tse Ka Wing, who both played in goal during the Asian Cup, along with field players Oliver Gerbig and Everton Camargo, were chosen for this friendly.
Chan Siu Kwan from Tai Po, who scored for the national team at the Asian Cup, and Mahama Awal, who scored the winning goal against Auckland City in 2019, are also in the lineup.
For Miami, Gregore, back from missing most of the 2023 season, played his second pre-season game recently. He and Leonardo Campana, who didn’t start against Al Hilal, played in their last match, taking over from Messi and David Ruiz .
Messi, Luis Suarez, and Ruiz were the last to score for Miami in the pre-season, netting the team’s only three goals so far.
Hong Kong possible starting lineup:
Fai;
Chow, Angel, Gerbig, Hall;
Jantscher, Scott, Cleiton, Kwan;
Gil, Awal
Inter Miami possible starting lineup:
Callender;
Yedlin, Sailor, Allen, Alba;
Taylor, Busquets, Farias;
Borgelin, Messi, Suarez
Prediction: Hong Kong 0-3 Inter Miami
It’s hard to see a team from a lower league standing much chance against a Miami team filled with experienced, high-level players. Therefore, we predict an easy win for the Herons, their first victory of the pre-season.
