Kitchee break Tai Po curse in monumental away win- Tai Po 1 Kitchee 2

By Adam O'Domhnaill

Summary

Photo by Yin

Kitchee came from behind to win for the first time in the league in over five years, with first half goals from Temirov and Fernando (a penalty deep into stoppage time) cancelled out Tai Po's opener. A goalless second half followed as Kitchee had chances to increase the lead, but also defended resolutely to seal a crucial victory, the first in Tai Po since March 2018.

Team news

Credits to Kitchee

Mingazow joins Tan Chun-lok and Jay Haddow on the sidelines, and Cardoso made three changes to the starting lineup, with Temirov, Juninho and Bae coming in for Welthon, Mingazow and Law, as Kitchee switched to more of a 4-4-2- Juninho played as a second striker, and Fernando played on the left.

Talley; Bae, Leon, Dantas, Jordan; Machado, Ngan, Rey, Fernando (c) (Chen 78); Juninho (Helio 90), Temirov (Welthon 86)

Unused subs: Wang, Law, Lung, Poon, Buddle, Slattery, Yeung, Jason

Match highlights

Credits to Kitchee

On a cold, unpleasant day, Tai Po took the lead early on. After eleven minutes, Michel Renner, Lucas Silva and Lee Ka-ho linked up to set up Renner, who timed his move into the box perfectly to beat Bae to the cross in. Fernando fired straight at Tse Ka-wing, and Machado's long-range sighter drifted aimlessly wide, as some Kitchee fans resigned themselves to another defeat and a definitive end to the title ambitions. Rey played in Fernando down the left, whose cross was met by Temirov at the near post with a lovely header to equalise. Tai Po's goalscoring hero Renner was then forced off through injury, and Marcao headed wide from a corner as Tai Po continued to look good. As stoppage time began, good linkup from Fernando and Jordan down the left set up Juninho, whose shot hit the arm of Weverton. After a lengthy delay, both for the VAR check and for Weverton's treatment (some reports suggest he suffered a bad injury), captain for the day Fernando stepped up and scored past Tse Ka-wing with his first Kitchee penalty in five years, despite the majority of fans assuming it would be Temirov, as the Uzbek forward was our only penalty scorer so far this season. 2-1 up, and Kitchee fans started to dream of what would be a massive victory.

Credits to Kitchee

As the second half rolled on, Machado's break down the right teed up Temirov, who tracked the ball and shielded it from the Tai Po defence, before unleashing a left footed first time strike which went just wide. Lucas Silva blasted one over the bar, and as the game came towards a close Kitchee held firm, negating Tai Po's threat. Fernando was stretchered off after seventy eight minutes, although it does not appear to be too serious, before Jordan Lam hit the bar from a free kick, the full back coming agonisingly close to his first goal for the club. After mammoth shifts up front Temirov and Juninho were replaced by Welthon and Helio, and after ten minutes of stoppage time Kitchee held on for a key win. Could it be the catalyst for a charge towards the title? 

Fans feedback

Credits to Kitchee

An unexpected victory given our past difficulties, but a huge win in the circumstances. Kitchee were due a bit of luck, and will look to push on and challenge for the league title. Every player put in a shift, and while the substitutions came late on, they all did the jobs they were meant to- Chen Ngo-hin and Welthon hustled hard, and Helio came on to help see out the win. Ngan Cheuk-pan in midfield was immense, locking down the threat of Philip Chan, while Temirov up front was an absolute workhorse, scoring a deserved goal and having a couple of good chances. Man of the Match Fernando had a goal and an assist, in what was probably his best game for Kitchee (offensively) for a long long time. The change in formation to a 4-4-2 posed questions to Tai Po's giant Brazilian centre backs, and Kitchee used clever movement to expose them. Talley was largely dominant in coming for crosses, and Leon and Dantas continued to develop their defensive partnership. 

Credits to Kitchee

Kitchee won away at Tai Po for the first time in over two and a half thousand days (March 2018), and came from behind to win a league game for the first time in over five years (November 2019). For Tai Po, it was their first home defeat in over a year. Fernando's goal drew him level with Sandro as Kitchee's joint fourth highest scorer, and baring injury he will bring up 200 appearances for the club this season. While his impact this season has been less than in previous years- given his advancing years it is understandable he has only started five times this season, but he is still capable of delivering top quality performances, as shown here.

What's next

Credits to Kitchee

Derby day again next week, with us playing Eastern on Sunday 2nd at 6pm at Mong Kok Stadium. Win and we can hopefully build up some momentum. Mingazow, Haddow and Lok are all expected to still be missing, but the rumours of a new signing are yet to be confirmed.

Match highlights

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