Kitchee too slick for new boys in opener
Midfielder Lam Ka-wai scores brace in 4-1 win over minnows Wofoo Tai Po to set the early pace as local Premier League kicks off
The gulf in class between last season's champions Kitchee and promoted Wofoo Tai Po was exposed in the opening match of the new BOCG Life Hong Kong Premier League on Friday night.
Kitchee were easy 4-1 winners at a sodden Mong Kok Stadium, after earlier heavy rain was a key factor in keeping the crowd number down to a disappointing 1,472.
Kitchee were on the board as early as the 11th minute when Jorge Tarres slotted home, but had to wait until well into the second half before midfielder Lam Ka-wai took advantage of a defensive blunder to score the second.
I think many local football fans chose to stay home because of the rain in the afternoon. Some of my friends who were coming along abandoned their plans
He added a penalty in the 67th minute before defender Fernando Recio bagged the fourth late. Defender Chen Jingde grabbed a consolation for Tai Po.
Kitchee coach Jose Molina was a happy man. "We could have scored more, but we tried to let the national players [who played in a friendly against Singapore earlier in the week] rest more in this match, but they did well when they were on the pitch," said Molina.
"Now we can focus on our AFC Cup [first-leg] semi-final with Arbil [in Jordan on Tuesday]. We have prepared for five weeks and are confident."
Delighted after the first-up Premier League win, Lam said the team would leave for Zarqa City on Saturday. "It will be tough task for us and I think our target is to get a draw in the first leg."
Tai Po coach Pau Ka-yiu said they could have played better. "We could have kept the margin down if we had focused more," he said. "I think the goal was reward for Chen Jingde as he has created many opportunities.