Raphael Merkies completes hat-trick in 11th minute of stoppage time as city team win topsy-turvy seven-goal thriller in Dhaka
Substitute Raphael Merkies completed a thrilling hat-trick with a 101st-minute winner as Hong Kong won an astonishing AFC Asian Cup qualifier 4-3 in Bangladesh.
The city team had hit back through Everton Camargo and a Merkies double after Hamza Choudhury gave the hosts a 13th-minute lead.
But it looked like Hong Kong had blown a golden opportunity to seize the initiative in their qualifying Group C after Shekh Morsalin struck in the 84th minute, and Shamit Shome buried a header beyond substitute keeper Tse Ka-wing in the ninth added minute at a fevered National Stadium in Dhaka.
There would be one final twist in the tale, however. Jesse Yu Joy-yin slung over a cross that broke for Shinichi Chan. He could not gather but the ball ran for Merkies, who squeezed his effort through goalkeeper Mitul Marma for his fifth goal in five international appearances.
