"It is elite level. Japan does not fear any team it faces."
Hong Kong, led by manager Ashley Westwood, began with a disappointing loss, falling 1-6 to Japan in the first match of the 2025 EAFF E-1 Championship held at Yongin Miracle Stadium on the afternoon of the 8th.
Hong Kong struggled against Japan, which fielded a lineup close to its third team, composed mostly of J League players, lacking in organization and firepower. In particular, conceding four goals within just 26 minutes of the first half was painful. The defensive line faced a significant test as they allowed the Sanfrecce Hiroshima forward, Jermaine Liao, to score a 'poker' (four goals) in his A-match debut.
In the 4th and 10th minutes of the first half, they failed to stop Soma Yuki's crosses, allowing consecutive goals to Jermaine, and then they could not prevent his left-footed shot from the arc and right-footed shot in front of the goal, conceding a hat trick and a fourth goal in succession. By the 20th minute of the first half, they conceded a goal from a mid-range shot by Inagaki Sho, recording five goals allowed in the first half alone.
Nevertheless, Hong Kong did not give up. In the 13th minute of the second half, Matthew Orh scored with a header from a corner kick, making up one goal. After that, they created several threatening moments, including a shot that hit the goal post during a counterattack.
In the additional time of the second half, they conceded a final goal to Japan's Nakamura Shota, bringing the match to an end with a 1-6 loss.
After the match, Hong Kong manager Ashley Westwood attended the official press conference and noted, "The result speaks for itself. However, defeats become lessons and stepping stones for growth. Japan is the best team in the top 15 rankings. Our young players have gone through a process of confirming their skills by competing against strong teams in Asia."
He continued, "Given the high level of the game, I believe it will certainly lead to growth in the future. For now, I can only praise Japan's playing style, system, and approach. Japan is a very good team, highly skilled, and at an elite level. Japan does not fear any team it faces. Although the team we encountered today is young, their overall strength was definitely at the top level."
When asked about Hong Kong soccer versus Japanese soccer, he explained, "What I can clearly say is regarding capabilities. Japan has leagues well-structured from J1 to J3. However, while Hong Kong has the Premier League, it does not have many leagues below that. There are only 9 teams in the Hong Kong Premier League. Even for J3, I believe there are many more teams, 40 or 50 teams, which have a very competitive structure."
He added, "All players aiming to enter the first team in Japan have come through a youth development system from U-23 to U-18. Culturally, everyone starts playing soccer from a young age, and they can use the stadium and training facilities. There has been a huge investment in Japanese soccer over the years. In terms of soccer, the two countries cannot be compared."
He stated, "Hong Kong must reflect on its current situation and develop into a better one. We are in a stage of growth. After being with the Hong Kong team for 10 months, Hong Kong has risen to 159th. The U-23 league in Hong Kong is achieving success and improving by age group. Grassroots youth are showing better levels, but time is needed." He further mentioned, "Currently, there are about 8 to 9 players competing in the Chinese Super League, but a considerable number also play in the Hong Kong Premier League. However, if we continue to develop each year through a long journey, we will ultimately be rewarded. Today, I believe we learned a lot from Japan."
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