Hong Kong champions Kitchee knocked out of AFC Champions League contention after Hanoi loss
Hong Kong side lose 1-0 to Hanoi T&T in preliminary round and fail to make main draw
Hong Kong side Kitchee are out of contention for a place in the AFC Champions League main draw after losing 1-0 to Hanoi T&T in a preliminary match in Hanoi on Tuesday night.
A second-half strike from skipper Gonzalo Marronkle was good enough for the home side to advance to the final stage of the qualifier.
We created a few chances but failed to convert them into goals
Despite the loss, captain Lo Kwan-yee remained upbeat about the performance.
“We did well in the first half,” said Lo. “We also created a few chances but failed to convert them into goals. A lapse of concentration then cost us dearly in the second half although our defence did pretty well to stop the opponents for most of the time.”
Goalkeeper Wang Zhenpeng admitted they ran out of steam after a tough first half. “Our fitness levels dropped a bit in the second period but we should have scored in the first half, and that could have made a difference,” Wang said.
The Vietnamese side now travels to South Korea where they will take on giants Pohang Steelers for a place in the main round.
Kitchee also lost at the same stage last year when they were beaten 4-1 by Chonburi of Thailand.
