Last weekend saw the penultimate round of games for most teams in the HKFA Championship plus the two Yau Yee League Cup Finals.
HKFA Division One
The first HKFA Division One game of the weekend was Saturday’s (May 3) clash between South China and Eastern Salon, played at the Hong Kong Stadium. South China opened the scoring in the 17th minute when Sasa Kajkut headed in a cross from Jack Sealy. South China quickly extended their lead in the 20th minute when Andrew Barisic converted Lee Hong-lim’s cross. South China built a strong first half lead in the 31st minute when Kajkut took a pass from Joao Pereira to fire home and a 3-nil lead which they took to the half-time break.
Eastern Salon reduced the deficit in the 62nd minute when Barisic headed an own goal from an Eastern Salon corner.
South China restored their three goal lead in the 74th minute when Barisic scored his second and South China’s fourth by finishing from Lo Kong-wai’s cross.
Eastern Salon pulled another goal back in the 78th minute when Dylan Macallister scored the final goal of the match, for a 4-2 win to South China.
In the second game played on Saturday (May 3) at Mong Kok Stadium, the champions Kitchee took on I-Sky Yuen Long. In a fairly lacklustre first-half, I-Sky Yuen Long took the lead in the 5th minute when Cheung Kin-fung scored an own goal from Yan Wai-hong’s cross, a lead that they held until half-time.
Kitchee started the second-half in a more determined mood and equalised in the 62nd minute when Alexander Akande collected Diego Cascon’s pass and fired home past I-Sky Yuen Long goalkeeper Pang Tsz-kin.
Kitchee took the lead in the 67th minute when Diego Sandoval scored. Jorge Tarres added a third in the 90th minute for a 3-1 win to Kitchee.
Kitchee, with one game remaining, now lead the table on 45 points. Sun Pegasus (29) are a distant second, with South China in third (28)—though with one game in hand on the two leaders.
Kitchee have won 14 and drawn 3 of their games this season, and will be aiming to remain undefeated when they face Yokohama in their final match of the season on Saturday (May 10). Kitchee will then hope to wrap up the double when they play Eastern Salon in the HKFA Cup Final on May 18.
Yau Yee League
With the league program completed, Saturday (May 3) saw the Yau Yee League’s final two trophies decided when the two Cup competition’s Finals were played at the HKFC Ground at Sports Road.
The Yau Yee League Chairman’s Cup was the first Final played, featuring Third Division sides HKU70’s and Goal Visio, playing in blustery conditions. Playing with the wind at their backs in the first half, HKU70’s had the better of the play and chances to deservedly take the lead—despite having a goal disallowed for offside and a host of missed chances.
Goal Visio, one down at half-time, but with the wind in their favour, had much more of the play in the second half. They eventually scored an equaliser when a penalty was awarded for a foul and the resultant penalty duly converted. Scores remained tied for a normal full-time score of 1-all.
HKU70’s eventually claimed the Cup during extra time when they scored a second goal, which they held until the final whistle.
The second game, the Yau Yee League Cup Final was contested by First Division sides Wanderers and German All Stars (GAS).
In the tightly contested game, where both sided traded possession and chances, Wanderers took the early lead after 6 minutes when Steve Everest hit a fierce drive from short range that ricocheted off a GAS defender’s heel and into the net. Despite pressure at both ends it was still 1-nil at half-time. GAS equalised in the second half from a penalty and consequently forced the game into extra time.
GAS appeared to get the better of the play during the extra time period and eventually took the lead for the first time.
Wanderers made several substitutions to get more forward players into the action and force an equaliser, with GAS defending stoutly. Eventually the Wanderers pressure counted when Paul Jarrett forced the ball home in a cluttered 6 yard box and force the game to a penalty shoot out.
The outcome was decided fairly quickly when, after both sides first penalty kickers duly scored, Wanderers second and third choice kickers scored, while their opponents choices put their penalties over the bar. This left captain Danny Beattie, of Wanderers, to step up and convert his side’s fourth penalty and secure the Cup.
