Kitchee send high-fliers Eastern packing
Crushing 4-0 win throws the Hong Kong championship race wide open
Kitchee proved they are still the team to beat in the BOCG Life Premier League with a stunning 4-0 win over high-flying Eastern at Tseung Kwan O Sports Ground on Saturday night.
The result threw the inaugural Premier League title race wide open with Kitchee moving top with 23 points, one ahead of Eastern. Sun Pegasus are also on 22 but have played one more game, followed by South China, two points further behind.
The boys deserve all the credit as we were down to 10 men, but never gave up. It was an amazing job
The match was marred by two red cards - Kitchee striker Borja Rubiato was given an early shower after his second booking on 14 minutes and Eastern striker Dylan Macallister was sent off for a second booking in the 58th minute.
"We can be the champions if we win all the remaining matches," said Kitchee coach Jose Molina. "We did expect to win [last night], but never expected such a big margin. The boys deserve all the credit as we were down to 10 men, but never gave up. It was an amazing job."
Eastern coach Cristiano Cordeiro was left to ponder their worst defeat of the season. "We did not do our job properly," he said. "We have to do better than that if we want to win the championship. The boys must keep their chins up."
Kitchee second-half substitute Ngan Lok-fung, who sent over a fine cross for Xu Deshuai to hit home the third goal of the night, said they were determined not to lose to Eastern for a third time in the season.
"We outclassed them in every department and hopefully we can maintain consistency, which is pivotal in challenging for the title," he said.
Kitchee sealed the victory through two late goals from Xu and Jorge Tarres.
Meanwhile, ambitious Sun Pegasus suffered another humiliating defeat with an early exit from the FA Cup at the hands of YFCMD. The team with a HK$20 million budget forced a 1-1 draw after 120 minutes in the first-round match at Kowloon Bay Park, but were beaten in a penalty shoot-out 5-4.
Pegasus were ousted in the Senior Shield quarter-finals when they were beaten by league strugglers Wong Tai Sin 3-1.
YFCMD will now meet I-Sky Yuen Long in the next round after the latter prevailed 4-1 over First Division side Sha Tin in another match yesterday.
The FA Cup continues on Sunday with South China taking on First Division side Citizen in the first round and Wong Tai Sin meeting Southern, also from the First Division.
