Chinese police have conducted days of anti-riot drills outside a 40,000-seat stadium in the southern city of Shenzhen, bordering the Chinese “special administrative zone” of Hong Kong.

Protesters blocked Hong Kong’s main streets for months previous year during the “Occupy Central” protests, calling for real democracy for the former British colony in the vote for its next leader in 2017. Beijing has allowed a direct vote, but only from among pre-screened, pro-Beijing candidates.

Hong Kong’s coach Kim Pan-gon his staff had been fortunate – China hit the woodwork 4 occasions, and had 41 photographs on aim, whereas Chinese language stated the referee had denied the staff a transparent penalty.

“We’ve faced so much pressure from China over the past year”.

Worries of a repeat situation this year rose even further when the Chinese National Football Association released a controversial poster warning about Hong Kong’s multicultural side.

There had additionally been controversy when the Chinese language Soccer Affiliation revealed a, which described the Hong Kong group as made up of individuals “with black pores and skin, yellow pores and skin and white pores and skin”.

Hong Kong financial markets were shut yesterday for a holiday. “For such a diverse team, be on guard”, the poster read.

The Hong Kong team produced a good chance in the 79th minute following substitute midfielder Xu Deshuai carved open the Chinese defence, but his curving shot went high over the crossbar. “Politics shouldn’t intrude into sports… but I do admit that ties between Hong Kong and China aren’t great right now”. [Many Hong Kong fans have recently taken to carrying barriers with the slogan “Fight for Hong Kong“.].

Nevertheless, the result clearly upset many Chinese soccer fans, who have got used to seeing their team performing poorly, but had seen their hopes raised after China, under French coach Alain Perrin, won its group in the recent Asian Cup Finals, before losing to eventual champions Australia.