Five goals, three points, and ten wins in a row- Kitchee 5 HKFC 2

Summary

Kitchee bounced back from going behind for the first time since November with a 5-2 win over HKFC. In front of a paltry 500 fans, Tatsuya Inoue gave HKFC a shock lead after ten minutes, but Anson Wong equalised moments later. Leandro Martinez scored his first Kitchee goals since December, either side of Bear saving a penalty (the awarding of which stunned the crowd) as Kitchee led 3-1 at half time. Adrian's double early in the second half extended the lead to 5-1 (although his first goal has since been given as an own goal) and a demolition looked on the cards. But with an eye on the FA Cup next week Kitchee slowed down, and HKFC nabbed another goal back with around ten minutes left. With Lee Man drawing on Saturday Kitchee's lead extends to fourteen points, but despite the crowd enthusiastically singing 'Champions of Hong Kong', coach Inigo Calderon and some of the players encouraged fans to not get complacent as the job is not done yet.

Team news

Kitchee adjusted slightly for this game, switching to a 3-1-4-2. Law Tsz-chun, Roger Riera and Matthew Slattery remained out, and Illarramendi was rested with next week's FA Cup clash in mind, having played ninety minutes in eight consecutive games. Kitchee made three changes, with Mingazow and Juninho dropping to the bench, and Leandro, Martin Merquelanz (for his Kitchee debut) and Anson Wong (for his first start) coming into the side.

Bear; Dantas, Jason, Beattie (Jordan 73); Lok (c); Merquelanz, Kanda (Li Siu-hin 63), Kendy (Ari Lam 73), Anson (Haddow 46); Adrian (Mingazow 63)

Unused subs: Wang, Lung, Buddle, Juninho

Match events

Inoue drove at Kitchee down the HKFC left, sitting down Merquelanz and scoring a lovely goal early for a shock lead after ten minutes. But Kitchee equalised soon after. A lofted ball from dantas into the debutant Merquelanz whose cross from the right was tucked in by Anson, very similar to his goal on his debut in January. Good passing and moving from Adrian, Kanda and Kendy saw the latter set up Leandro for a simple finish just after the half hour, before HKFC were awarded a penalty which Bear saved with his legs. Leandro doubled his account in stoppage time, after Kendy cleverly dinked a freekick into the box for his second assist. 3-1 and Kitchee were comfortable.

Adrian got on the end of Leandros cross to add a 4th, although it seems to have been given as an own goal after taking a touch off the HKFC centre back. Beattie played in Kendy who saw his shot saved. The impressive Merquelanz swung in a quality corner which was headed onto the post by Leandro going for his hat trick, but Adrian tapped in the rebound. HKFC pulled another goal back late on after an impressive break down the right by young right back William Mirwasser. Leandro and Haddow both had chances to increase the lead further, but in the end Kitchee enjoyed a straightforward victory with key players taken off early ahead of next weeks cup game, and some not playing at all.

Fan feedback

It was strange to see Kitchee go a goal behind for the first time since Southern away at the end of November, especially against a side that had only achieved four points all season. But Kitchee bounced back almost instantly, and in the end were comfortable. The gamble of playing two wingers as wingbacks against a weaker team paid off, and meant that some of Kitchee's other key names are well rested for next week. Illarramendi was left out of the squad altogether, while Juninho was an unused substitute and Jay Haddow came on at half time. The nature of the victory meant that Adrian Revilla and Yumemi Kanda were able to come off with nearly half an hour to go.

Martin Merquelanz had a solid debut, despite slipping in the build up to the opening goal. He effortlessly switched flanks at half time, and his deliveries posed threats, both from open play and set pieces. His cross from the right was tapped in for the equaliser by Anson Wong, although Leandro Martinez may have got a touch on the way through. Merquelanz's corner led to Kitchee's fifth goal, as Leandro's header into the post was tucked in. For a man without a competitive game since early November, he completed his first ninety minutes in almost five years, after a few injury-ravaged years. We hope he can continue this throughout the rest of the season.

Leandro Martinez had by far his best game in a Kitchee shirt, scoring twice and also hitting the post. Transfermarkt has given him three assists, but some may disagree. His slightly wayward finishing in recent weeks had frustrated the fans but the man of the match display was a welcome change, as he scored his first goals since December. The margin of victory allowed some rest and rotation in the second half, with teenagers Li Siu-hin and Ari Lam coming on, and Jay Haddow playing in central midfield. Sunday's victory meant Kitchee reached ten wins in a row, and the players and staff will be hoping to continue this in the upcoming weeks.

What's next and other news

Kitchee next take on Tai Po in the FA Cup on Saturday night, in a 6.30pm kickoff at Mong Kok. After one trophy in the last two seasons, Kitchee will be determined to win as much as possible, so will go all out to win it. There are three league games remaining before the league splits into a championship and relegation group.

In the Lunar New Year Cup between Hong Kong and FC Seoul, Juninho scored from a Jay Haddow cross as the game ended 1-1. Tan Chun-lok captained the side, with Bear and Jason Kam also starting. Jordan Lam came off the bench and scored the decisive penalty in the shootout. Kitchee announced the formal signing of Myanmar under 22 international Thurain Tun, who debuted and scored for Kitchee's U22s in midweek, along with the promotion to the first team of teenage goalkeeper Tang Pui-chun. The young goalkeeper started four of five games for the Hong Kong under 17 side in Asian Cup qualification in November. 

Hong Kong's two games during the March international window have been confirmed, with a trip to Nepal on the 26th March (kick off 8.15pm Hong Kong time) and the final dead rubber Asian Cup qualifier in India on the 31st March (kick off 9.30pm Hong Kong time). We anticipate a number of Kitchee players to be involved, and will update you when the squads are released.

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Match highlights