Honduras' title

China, Slovenia fall flat in Hong Kong tournament

HONG KONG (AP) -- Saul Martinez scored in the second half as Honduras beat the Hong Kong League XI 1-0 Friday to win Hong Kong's Carlsberg Cup soccer tournament.

Earlier, Slovenia beat China 4-3 in a penalty shootout Friday to finish in third place in the four-team tournament after the two World Cup qualifiers battled to a scoreless draw at the end of regulation play.

The Hondurans, who trounced Slovenia 5-1 in the opening game on Tuesday, had to battle hard to break down the Hong Kong defense.

The 25-year-old Martinez, who scored four goals against Slovenia, got his team's winning goal against Hong Kong in the 67th minute when he headed the ball into net following a cross from teammate Julio Cesar Leon.

Martinez, who plays for Uruguayan league champion Nacional, thrilled the spectators at the Hong Kong Stadium with his ball control.

The local squad was reduced to 10 men after Guy Gerard Ambassa was shown the red card for a dangerous tackle on Jose Lius Pineda in the 88th minute.

The Hong Kong League XI, which upset China 4-3 in a penalty shootout Tuesday, was made up of top players from the local league.

Both Slovenia and China, who will be making their first appearances in the World Cup finals in the summer, were playing in Hong Kong without some of their star players because of injuries.

Slovenia dominated the match against the Chinese in the first half but created few scoring chances.

The Chinese picked up the pace in the second half but were unable to break the tight Slovenia defense.

Slovenia won the penalty shootout after China's Su Maozhen and Shen Si missed their shots.

Slovenia's coach Srecko Katanec said his team "will play much better" in the World Cup finals.

His Chinese counterpart, Shen Xiang Fu, said his squad was unfortunate to lose again in a penalty shootout following a similar defeat against Hong Kong.

The Chinese team arrived in Hong Kong without its top coach, Bora Miltinovic, who was resting in Beijing after recovering from a bout of pneumonia.

Multinovic, 57, is regarded as a hero on the mainland for leading China to the World Cup finals, to be hosted by South Korea and Japan.

Lineups:

Honduras: Victor Coello; David Carcamo, Samuel Caballero, Jaime Rosales, Sergo Mendoza, Jose Luis Pineda, Julio Cesar Leon, Ronny Morales, Saul Martinez, Armado Guevara, Limber Perez.

Hong Kong: Fan Chun-yip; Yu Kin-wai, Cristiano Cordeiro, Carlo Andre Bielemann Hartwig, Au Wai-lun, Gary Joseph McKeown, Lo Kai-wah, Keith Gerome Gumbs, Guy Gerard Ambassa, Aderbal Filho, Poon Yiu-cheuk.

Slovenia: Marko Simeunovic; Zeljiko Milinovic, Marinko Galic, Bekim Kapic, Ales Ceh, Mladen Rudonja, Sasa Gajser, Tavcar Rajko, Milenko Acimovic, Senad Tiganj, Zoran Pavlovic.

China: Li Yunfei; Gao Yao, Wu Chengying, Li Tie, Zhao Junzhe, Song Lihui, Su Maozhen, Li Weifeng, Shen Si, Xu Yunlong, Li Yi.

 

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