Gibraltar and Hong Kong squared off in the opening match of the 2019 CTFA U-19 International Tournament on Saturday afternoon in National Stadium, Kaohsiung, Chinese Taipei. A hat-trick performance by Gibraltar’s Julian Del Rio powered his side past Hong Kong 3:2.

Hong Kong had a glorious chance to break the game open on the 12^th minute, as So Dick-on chased down a teammate’s pass, darted into the box and fired a left-footer that was brilliantly saved by John Hernandez in the Gibraltar goal.

On the 28^th minute, Hong Kong’s Les Fung unleashed a tight-angle shot from the left-side of the penalty area but was turned away by a one-handed save from Gibraltar goalkeeper John Hernandez.

It was still Hong Kong past the half-hour mark. On the 33^rd minute, So Dick-on made a powerful run down the right side, fought off pressure from a Gibraltar defender and fired away, only to witness his shot went wide off the opponent’s goal.

Gibraltar took the lead on the 42^nd minute, as Julian Del Rio picked up the ball on the right side of the box, then made a powerful move before drilling the ball home, putting the Europeans in front 1:0.

Late in the first-half, Hong Kong’s Lai Pui-kei did some fine work down the left wing before knocking the ball towards the middle. Chang Kwong-yin dashed to the goal-mouth area but fired the ball wide.

Gibraltar expanded its lead early in the second-half. On the 49^th minute, Julian Del Rio connected with a Luke Bautista’s cross and fired the ball into the Hong Kong net. The score was 2:0 with Gibraltar well in front.

Hong Kong answered back on the 52^nd minute, as Jesse Yu found himself on the receiving end of a teammate’s free-kick delivery and nodded the ball home. Hong Kong managed to cut Gibraltar’s lead into half.

Hong Kong scored another goal and tied the game on the 62^nd minute. Jesse Yu found daylight behind the Gibraltar defense and went one-on-one against Gibraltar goalkeeper John Hernandez. Yu kept his cool and fired the ball home, making it 2:2.

Gibraltar went in front again on the 78^th minute, as Julian Del Rio made a powerful move inside the Hong Kong penalty area, before finding the back of the net with a fine strike. It was 3:2 with Gibraltar back in front.

Deep in stoppage time, King Ng connected with a teammate’s centering pass but could not find the intended target with his header.

Both sides failed to add to the score in the remaining regulation time, as Hong Kong suffered a 3:2 defeat against Gibraltar in the opening match of the 2019 CTFA U-19 International Tournament.