New Year, new silverware plus a historic win for Hong Kong

Credits to Samuel

Article by Adam O'Domhnaill

Over the festive period, Kitchee played three games. First up was an entertaining 4-4 draw with Rangers in the Sapling Cup. Seventeen year old midfielder Yuen Chun-Him opened the scoring with his first goal for Kitchee, before Rangers came back to lead 2-1 at half time. Cheng Chin Lung equalised soon after half time with his first goal of the season, before another goal for Yuen and a first career goal for Yeung Cheuk-Kwan looked to have sealed victory. But Rangers came back in stoppage time to deny Kitchee moving to the top of the group with two late goals. Kitchee's next games in the competition in January are at Kowloon Bay Park, against RCFC and North District on the 13th and 20th respectively.

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After Christmas, Kitchee were one of four participants in the first (and possibly only) instalment of the Hong Kong Premier League Cup, alongside Lee Man, Rangers and Eastern. Kitchee took on local rivals Eastern in the semi final, and the strong team Kitchee put out were levels above Eastern's young players. A complete mismatch ended up 5-0 to Kitchee; first half goals for Russell, Scott and Mingazow being followed by a second half brace off the bench for Sherzod Temirov. 

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This set up a final with Lee Man on New Years Day, the fourth meeting of the season. After a demoralising 4-1 defeat in the league, Kitchee had bounced back with a ground out 1-0 win in the Senior Shield and a 4-1 thrashing in the Sapling Cup. The game got off to a ferocious start with Kitchee 2-0 down after seven minutes, with Anier and Gil scoring for Lee Man. But Kitchee came back swiftly, with goals from Mikael and Mingazow bringing the score to 2-2 after only fourteen minutes. Kitchee had the better of the chances as the game went on, but the two sides could not be separated.

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Penalties beckoned, and after Henri Anier missed the opening kick for Lee Man, the next nine penalties were all scored. Mikael, Igor, Fernando and Cleiton were all on target for Kitchee, before captain for the day Roberto sealed victory in front of nearly three thousand fans (the highest attendance for a Hong Kong club game this season) to give Kitchee their first trophy of the season. There are much more important games to follow, but wins over rivals, no matter the competition, are always enjoyable for the fanbase.

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In other Kitchee news, Hong Kong defeated China in a behind closed doors friendly in Abu Dhabi late on New Years Day. China took the lead early on, but at half time Poon Pui Hin was introduced and the young forward scored twice to secure Hong Kong's first win over China for nearly thirty years. A bad tempered game saw two China players and a China coach sent off, Helio captained Hong Kong, with Shinichi Chan, Tan Chun Lok and the debutant Juninho all starting. Gerbig, Poon and Tsz Law Chun came off the bench in this historic match.  

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