Eastern coach Chan Yuen-ting proud of players after defeat by Suwon in AFC Champions League
The Hong Kong side lose 1-0 at home but turn in a battling performance against stronger South Korean opponents
Hong Kong champions Eastern turned in a brave performance but fell 1-0 at home to a late goal against South Korea’s Suwon Bluewings in the AFC Champions League on Tuesday night at Mong Kok Stadium.
Two second-half substitutes, Yeom Ki-hun and Brazilian Johnathan – possibly Suwon’s best players from Suwon – combined to give the Korean side victory with 12 minutes left. South Korea international Yeom crossed from the right and Johnathan was free to head home from close range.
The difference in standards between the two teams were clear throughout the contest but Chan Yuen-ting’s men battled hard and frustrated Suwon for much of the game.
Eastern suffered their second defeat in group G, having lost 7-0 to China’s Guangzhou Evergrande before earning a 1-1 draw at home with Japan’s Kawasaki Frontale.
“Apart from the goal, we played to a very high standard,” said Eastern coach Chan Yuen-ting, the first woman ever to manage a team in the competition. “We didn’t play too badly. When we play our next game, we would have three matches experience in this competition and hopefully we will perform better.”
Eastern player Tse Man-wing added: “We created a few chances and were unlucky not score, but overall we have to be really satisfied with our performance. Jaimes McKee had a great chance but couldn’t score.