Hong Kong and Macao return to international action for the first time in 2025 on Wednesday, when they meet in a friendly at Mong Kok Stadium.
The visitors have not tasted victory since 2019, while their hosts have won each of their last six matches.
Match preview
Hong Kong return to Mong Kok Stadium on Wednesday aiming to record a seventh straight international victory and a first since the turn of the year.
Following an unsuccessful World Cup Qualifying campaign last year, they bounced back with three straight wins in friendlies across October and November, before entering qualifying for the 2025 EAFF E-1 Football Championship.
Ashley Westwood's team advanced in dominant fashion with a perfect group record, beginning by beating Mongolia and Chinese Taipei 3-0 and 2-1 respectively.
That campaign then culminated in a trip to Guam, and they dished out a 5-0 beating with Siu-Kwan Philip Chan netting a brace alongside goals from Nicholas Benavides, Everton Camargo and Dudu.
Now returning to action for the first time in three months, Hong Kong will hope to pick up where they left off in December and continue their winning run on Wednesday.
Their visitors, meanwhile, make the trip in search of a first win in more than five years.
Macao last tasted victory in World Cup qualifying against Sri Lanka in 2019, and they have since drawn just once in a run of 10 outings.
That draw came in the latest round of World Cup qualifying in 2023 from a goalless stalemate against Myanmar, and the Verdes were only in action three times last year, firstly falling short in two meetings with Brunei.
Then under the new management of Kar-Lok Kenneth Kwok, they most recently hosted Guam in their only EAFF E-1 Football Championship qualifying game and fell to a 2-1 defeat, having drawn level through Lei Cheng Lam in the first half and fallen behind again 17 minutes from time.
Macau will now aim to end their poor run of international form and record a first victory since 2019 and a first win in their second game under the management of Kwok.
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Team News
Hong Kong should field a similar starting XI from their5-0 thrashing of Guam last time out in December, with Siu-Kwan Philip Chan bound to lead the line again after moving onto six international goals with a brace in that game.
He should again be joined up front by Matt Orr, who has netted six goals in his last 10 caps, while Everton Camargo offers further attacking threat from midfield.
Hung-Fai Yapp boasts the most experience in the squad and will continue between the sticks, having surpassed 100 caps last year.
Macau's attack should again be led by 20-year-old Lei Cheng Lam, who netted his first international goal in their defeat to Guam last time out.
Dion Carlos Choi and Chi-Seng Leung may again support him from the wings, while Hoi-San Cheong and Wa-Keng Ng will hope to keep their places in the midfield.
Hong Kong possible starting lineup:
Yapp; Dudu, Gerbig, Tsui, Jones; Fernando; Benavides, Wong, Camargo; Orr, Chan
Macao possible starting lineup:
Ho; Man, Amancio, Kam, Lam, Sou; Ng, Cheong; Choi, Lei, Leung
We say: Hong Kong 3-0 Macao
With home advantage, superior quality in their squad and a much stronger recent record, we can only envisage Hong Kong cruising to a victory on Wednesday.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Sam Varley
