Hong Kong dream dies and defeat in the Sapling Cup- Kitchee news this week

Photo by Edmund

Written by Adam O'Domhnaill

Hong Kong's Asian Cup adventure has now come to an end, after defeats to Iran and Palestine. The Iran game was seen by many fans as a damage limitation exercise, having lost 4-0 to the same opponents in November. Kitchee's Shinichi, Gerbig and Tan Chun Lok started for the second game in a row and Poon dropped to the bench and came on late in stoppage time. Considering the gap of well over a hundred places in the rankings, the team could take a lot of heart from the performance creating some decent chances, and having a couple of decisions go against them late on. A first half goal was enough for Iran to win, but Hong Kong still had a chance of progressing.

Photo by Edmund

It all came down to the Palestine game. After two gutsy defeats, this was the crucial match. Lok, Shinichi and Gerbig all started, with Juninho and Helio recovering enough to make the bench. Palestine took an early lead, with both sides having chances to score in the first half. Two goals early in the second half meant Hong Kong faced an almost impossible task. Hong Kong had a chance for a consolation, as substitute Juninho's cross was handled in the area, but Lee Man's Everton hit the bar with the resulting penalty. Hong Kong were out. Zero points, one goal, and their time in Qatar came to a close.

Photo by Edmund

Bruce Lee banner, with the lyrics 'HKer- don't look down yourself' written by Cantonese hip hop group LMF. In 1956, the first Asian Cup was played in Hong Kong. Bruce Lee became a student of his master Ip Man in the same year, and Edmund wanted to commemorate the two events in his banner.

Photo by Hin

Onto Saturday afternoon's Sapling Cup action. The start of the match was delayed by half an hour due to a hole in the six yard box, and it is farcical that Kowloon Bay continues to be used for the Sapling Cup, with nine games there in January alone. Mikael was suspended, but there was a debut for new centre back Sedin Ramic, a second start of the season for Wookie and a return to the bench for Paulo after two months injured. North District went ahead early on, before Russell headed in Fernando's corner just before half time. Both sides had chances to take the lead as the second half went on, before poor defending from Kitchee allowed Kendy to give North District the lead with less than ten minutes to go. Ramic had a debut goal ruled out for offside, and in stoppage time North District scored a third. A first domestic defeat for Kitchee since October, and first defeat at all since losing to Jeonbuk at home in the ACL in November.

Photo by Edmund

Our next game is the Sapling Cup fixture against North District, on the 4th February at Hammer Hill. Who will play here is unclear; our Asian cup players will be back, but some may be selected for the two-legged Guangdong-HK cup and the HK League XI vs Inter Miami. Five of Kitchee's foreign players were called up for the Inter Miami match, and if all make the final squad, our numbers will be depleted even further. This game is likely to be rescheduled due to the other games taking place.

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