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Matt Orr tracked the cross-field pass perfectly and leapt to meet the delivery. He headed the ball toward striker Pui Hin Pun who volleyed it into the left corner.

The net bulged and Hong Kong made history, defeating Iran to reach the semifinals of the 2023 Asian Games in Hangzhou, China.

It was the farthest Hong Kong ever went in a major international tournament. And just three days prior, Orr’s lone goal in a win over Palestine set up a showdown with Iran in Hong Kong’s first Asian Games quarterfinal contest since 1958.

“It was a touching moment between players and fans,” Orr said. “I’m extremely grateful and blessed to be on this journey and have these special memories that will last in history for Hong Kong.”

Orr’s journey to the international spotlight was powered by his willingness to “get out of the comfort zone.” Born and raised in Hong Kong, Orr’s mother is Hongkongese and his father, Andrew, is from New Zealand. Playing youth soccer in Hong Kong, Orr dominated. At 16-years-old, Orr left home for IMG Academy (Florida) in search of a new challenge.

After high school, Orr spent three years at the University of San Francisco. He transferred to Syracuse for his fifth and final season before turning professional.

“I felt like I had hit that ceiling quite early on and wanted to challenge myself and get a feel for what the football world was like outside of Hong Kong,” Orr said.

Orr found it difficult to adapt to life in the U.S. The training system at IMG was more physical and intense from what he was used to. Orr said he had been “spoiled” by IMG’s facilities. He remembered scouts frequented his games which motivated him.

“My experience at IMG was fantastic. I was in a perfect place to enhance my game.” Orr said. “This was the best decision I could have made.”

Orr committed to San Francisco in 2016. Despite being recruited as a forward, then-head coach Eddie Soto switched Orr to left back due to his polished technique as a lefty. Orr remembered the move was sudden and he wasn’t given much time to adjust from the drastic switch.

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“This (left back) is a position that the team needed in order to help develop and win games so I felt the responsibility to help the team doing that in any way I could,” Orr said.

In three seasons with USF, Orr played 41 games, recording four goals and two assists. In his first year, he earned West Coast Conference All-Freshman team honors after starting 15 of 16 games. During Orr’s sophomore season, he helped the Dons win the 2017 WCC regular season title and advance to the second round of the NCAA Tournament.

“Matt (Orr) is someone with an attitude that makes him built to win and do the best in everything he’s doing,” Orr’s former USF teammate Seamus McLaughlin said. “When he was put at left-back every game, I never saw his attitude shift away from trying to be the best teammate and do his best to help the team win at any cost.”

In 2019, Orr transferred to Syracuse for his senior season. Orr’s appetite for new challenges spearheaded a switch to the Atlantic Coast Conference.

“The main reason I decided to transfer to Syracuse was to challenge myself and get out of my comfort zone,” Orr said. “After being at USF for 3 years I felt like I needed a change of environment and wanted to have a new experience.”

Noah Singelmann, now a graduate defender with Syracuse, arrived on campus with Orr. The two worked together since they both came from international backgrounds.

“He took care of me when I was a young freshman,” Singelmann said. “For me, coming to the United States wasn’t an easy step. Being 19 years old, (I) never lived far from home and Matt went through the same stuff. So I could always rely on (Orr).”

At Syracuse, Orr’s prowess up and down the left flank continued to shine. He started seven of 16 games in 2019 and helped the Orange qualify for the NCAA Tournament.

“I don’t think we’ve had many better left feet on campus than his, (which is) very special,” head coach Ian McIntyre remembered. “Unfortunately we only had him for a short period of time.”

The highlight of Orr’s brief stint at SU came in the first round of the 2019 ACC Tournament. Syracuse and UNC were tied after regulation and extra time. During the ensuing penalty shootout, Orr struck the winning spot kick.

“He’s no shrinking violet,” McIntyre said. “He’s a confident young man and (I) had no doubt in him stepping up.”

After graduation, Orr could’ve played in the United Soccer League Championships — U.S. professional men’s soccer’s second division — but he decided to return to Hong Kong and sign a professional deal with his boyhood club, Kitchee SC.

Orr said he visited Hong Kong during every summer break in college to train with Kitchee. He said the trips home helped strengthen his native roots and provided insight on playing professionally.

Matt Orr’s assist in Hong Kong’s Asian Games quarterfinal win against Iran marked the country’s farthest progression in any major international tournament. Courtesy of Matt Orr

“It was also important for me to come back and represent Hong Kong because playing for the National Team is a privilege (that) not many players have,” Orr said.

In 2022, Orr led Kitchee to the knockout rounds of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Championships for the first time ever. On the international stage, he helped Hong Kong clinch a spot in the 2024 Asian Cup for the first time since 1968.

“It’s very unique,” Singelmann said. “Not many guys have done it and obviously (who) have a Hong Kong background.”

That following offseason, Orr left Kitchee for Guangxi FC in China’s second division. This past year with Guangxi, Orr has racked up 14 goals in 23 games, becoming the club’s top scorer in its five year history. Orr attributes his professional success to his time spent in the U.S.

“(My experience in the U.S.) taught me how to be ruthless on the pitch and treat every day as an opportunity to improve,” Orr said. “It showed me the desire and hunger your need as a player on a daily basis to be different from the rest and standout.”

Orr has dealt with position changes among other challenges in foreign environments. But his motivation and refusal to shy away from a new challenge has led to his successes today.

“Do I think (his effort) worked out? Just ask Iran,” McLaughlin said.

Published on October 16, 2023 at 11:55 pm