SCOTLAND 4 HONG HONG XI 0
 | The Hong Kong Dailly Express |
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Scotland completed their three-match tour of the Far East with an easy win over a Hong Kong League select side. Goals from Kevin Kyle, Steven Thompson, Christain Dailly and Scot Gemmill made it a comfortable and enjoyable end to the experimental squad trip, following earlier defeats from South Korea and South Africa. Earlier defeats by France and Nigeria meant the game in Hong Kong was coach Berti Vogts' first taste of victory, however (sadly), the match does not qualify as an international. The game was played in front of a meager crowd and resembled a training exercise at times and arguably little to be learned against sub-standard opponents. Maybe France thought the same when playing ourselves! Vogts handed a first start to Dundee centre-back Lee Wilkie and also gave Hearts midfielder Scott Severin the chance to show what he could do. The third change was up front with Thompson introduced, having recovered from the hamstring problem which forced him to miss the first two games of the tour. The Hong Kong XI was a mainly home-grown bunch augmented by four Brazilians, Nigerian striker Cornelius Udebuluzor and a Scotsman in skipper Gary McKeown, the former Dundee midfielder. A rather scrappy start to the match saw the Scots reduced to a couple of speculative long-range efforts, while the hosts' enthusiastic style unsettled Vogts' back three of Wilkie, Dailly and David Weir without ever troubling keeper Rab Douglas. Indeed the home side found corners surprisingly easy to come by without really threatening. Scotland began to enjoy the bulk of possession midway through the first half and took the lead after 23 minutes when Kyle connected with a lofted ball from Gemmill to volley home at the back post. It was a huge confidence boost to a side who have scored 2 and conceded 13 in 4 games. Soon after, more good work from Gemmill set up Allan Johnstone, but the Middlesbrough man saw his shot blocked by goalie Chun-Yip. Kyle came close to a second goal when he headed narrowly wide from a Robbie Stockdale cross. Nine minutes before half time, Scotland doubled their advantage when Johnstone released Thompson on the edge of the penalty box and, despite a poor first touch, the Dundee United striker angled a low drive into the corner of the net. After the interval, West Brom striker Scott Dobie was introduced and Chelsea's young left back Warren Cummings was given his debut. Five minutes into the second period, Dailly added a third goal when he rose highest to nod home a Gemmill free kick.  | Gemmill scores at last |
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The Scots were rarely tested, but Douglas had Wilkie thank for a goal-line clearance in the 66th minute. Gemmill grabbed his first Scotland goal in his 23rd appearance when he knocked in from close range after an excellent burst from the back by Dailly. Gareth Williams, Garry O'Connor and Graham Alexander were late substitutes and keeper Paul Gallacher was given an opportunity in the final few minutes. Teams:
Hong Kong League XI: Chun-yip, Kin-wai, Cordeiro, Da Conceicao, Andre, McKeown, Kwok-pui, Ho-man, Udebuluzor, Yiu-cheuk, Filho. Subs: Ka-ki, Koon-pong, Man-tik, Hei-chi, Ching-kwong, Kai-wah, Wai-man (not from Newcastle!)
Scotland: Douglas, Weir, Dailly, Wilkie, Stockdale, Gemmill, Severin, Ross, Johnston, Thompson, Kyle.
Subs: Paul Gallacher, Neil Alexander, Graham Alexander, Gary Caldwell, Dobie, Stewart, O'Connor, Williams, McFadden, Cummings. Referee: R Krishnan (Malaysia)
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