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Hong Kong’s goalkeeper Yapp Hung-fai kept the game goalless amid a Chinese onslaught, a result that China’s manager acknowsledged would now make it a struggle for China to qualify for Russian Federation.

Tension between both sides rose after last year’s “Umbrella movement” pro-democracy rallies.

Due to bad luck and a clear goal disallowed by the referees, China had to accept another goalless draw with Hong Kong here on Tuesday in Group C of the 2018 Federation Internationale de Football Association World Cup Asian Zone qualifying tournament.

Home supporters also swore at the visiting Chinese supporters and showed them their middle fingers in a rowdy start to proceedings at the sold-out, 6,000-seat Mong Kok Stadium. “We should win the game although our opponents performed well in defence”.

Ninety percent felt the team now has no hope of advancing beyond the group – China is third behind Hong Kong – after the round finishes next year.

Football fans jeering the anthem in semi-autonomous Hong Kong, ruled under Deng Xiaoping’s “one country, two systems” principle, follows a souring of sentiment towards Beijing.

Only the eight group winners and four best runners-up will advance to the next stage of qualifying. Hong Kong soccer officials had warned that there could be serious consequences, such as being forced to play behind closed doors, if fans continued their booing.

The result means that China, looking to add to its only appearance at the tournament in 2002, is now seven points behind group leaders Qatar and three adrift of Hong Kong in second with two games remaining in the second round of qualification.

“We are separating the audience from mainland China and Hong Kong, even for the toilets”, HKFA chairman Brian Leung said Sunday.

“Our national squad has just failed to beat the equivalent of a provincial team”, one user on Weibo said.