Late thriller decides South China clash with Kitchee

A goal in stoppage time by Martins de Souza gave South China a thrilling 1-0 victory against arch-rivals Kitchee in a top-of-the-table clash at Hong Kong Stadium yesterday.

The Brazilian striker celebrated his 97th-minute goal by taking off his jersey in front of the home fans, an act that earned him a second yellow card and a sending-off, but that hardly mattered as South China drew first blood against Kitchee in the teams' first meeting of the season.

Jack Sealy's timely cross from the right flew over the keeper's head and was well met by De Souza, who knocked the ball into an empty net.

"We were under huge pressure to get this win and that explains why De Souza lost his head and took off his jersey," said South China coach Liu Chun-fai. "Luckily, there was only a minute left to play, otherwise De Souza would have risked going from hero to zero."

Liu was pleased his players otherwise kept their focus in a tense game in which the referee handed out 10 yellow cards (six to South China and four to Kitchee). "We were fighting for the victory until the end and our efforts paid off," Liu said. "We were in control in the final stages whereas Kitchee seemed to be running out of steam."

Kitchee goalkeeper Wang Zhenpeng was injured collecting a high ball midway through the second half, interrupting the match for five minutes as the visitors from Tseung Kwan O made three substitutions.

When the match resumed, one of the substitutes, Jonathan Carril, saw his shot crash into the crossbar. "It would have changed the match if Carril had enjoyed a bit more luck. South China took their chance, we didn't take ours," Kitchee boss Ken Ng Kin lamented. "A draw would have been a fairer result.