Senior Shield final preview

Written by Adam O'Domhnaill

After a break of almost two months, Hong Kong's international footballers return to the domestic club scene. Since our internationals departed, we have had mixed results in the Sapling Cup, but did win the inaugural Hong Kong Premier League Cup in January.

Photo by Scoop

Kitchee have not had a game for three weeks, since the Sapling Cup defeat to North District. But some players will have played in that time; Poon scored in the Guangdong-HK Cup, and six of our regular starters played forty five minutes in the friendly between the Hong Kong League XI and Inter Miami.

This season is the fourth time in the past decade that we play Eastern in the Senior Shield final, and they beat us in 2015 before we got revenge in 2017. The 2023 final was the first in front of fans for four years, and after a 1-1 draw Kitchee triumphed on penalties. While Typhoon Saola caused the September league meeting to be postponed, we did emerge 5-0 winners in the Premier League Cup semi final. 

Kitchee go into the match as favourites, having scored eight goals in their two games in the competition. The majority came in November's quarter final rout of RCFC, with Kim Shin-wook's brace rounding off a 7-0 win. A week later Juninho's early goal proved the difference against Lee Man, in a game that saw eleven yellow cards.

Photo by Tony

Coach Kim Dong-jin has some decisions to make regarding team selection, with players coming and going through internationals and exhibition matches. Helio and Juninho had limited gametime with Hong Kong owing to fitness issues, and Shinichi was withdrawn injured in the final game. We have been without the services of goalkeeper Paulo since November, but having made the bench last time out, he should be in contention for a start.

We have had the upper hand against our ground sharing rivals, having not lost to Eastern since February 2021. Noah Baffoe has been their best player this season, and scored the winner in extra time in the quarter final against Southern. He then opened the scoring in the semi final as Rangers were swept aside. Eastern have a very young side, but they will welcome back Yapp, Sun and Jesse from Hong Kong's Asian Cup squad, as well as centre back Tamirlan Kozubayev, who captained all three Kyrgyzstan games at the same competition.

Kitchee are clear favourites, but the varied match preparation for both squads could end up playing a role in how free flowing the game is. We have the recent pedigree in the competition, as well as the bulk of the squad from the treble winning side last season. 

Angry Boundary Street prediction: Kitchee 3 Eastern 0, and another trophy for the cabinet. Our experience should prove too much for Eastern, and with our regular defence back, we can hopefully keep a third successive clean sheet in the competition. 

See you at Mong Kok Stadium on Sunday 11th at 3pm. Tickets available from HKFA offices Wednesday Thursday Friday and on the door at Mong Kok Stadium. $120 for adults, $40 students.

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