Citizen saved their best performance for last as the Hong Kong side defeated Yangon United 2-1 in their final AFC Cup group G match in Myanmar yesterday.
With the temperature at 40 degrees Celsius, Citizen played patiently, relying on a counter-attacking game to preserve energy. They were rewarded with goals in each half, though the first, in the sixth minute, was an own goal by Yangon captain Khin Maung Lwin.
Although the home team reduced the deficit to one goal and came close to equalising on a number of occasions, including an effort that was ruled offside in stoppage time, a determined Citizen stayed strong to the end to complete their debut AFC Cup campaign on a high note.
'This is a perfect ending for the team,' Citizen executive director Calvin Pui Ho-wang said.
'Although we failed to qualify for the next round, we knew from the beginning of the tournament that that was probably out of reach. Our main target was to gain international exposure, and from this point of view we can consider ourselves winners.
'We have learned a lot from our group opponents and that will surely benefit us in domestic competitions.'