Forlan completed almost an hour in front of a near-capacity Mong Kok Stadium, where a tight game was thought to be in store between the city’s two dominant teams of recent times.

The event itself was a total mismatch as Lucas opened the scoring after just two minutes for Kitchee, before an own goal from Eastern’s Japanese defender Yusuke Igawa and a third from Krisztian Vadocz piled on the host’s misery before half-time.

Lucas went on to complete his hat-trick in the second half, while Brazilian Fernando registered a brace and Jared Lum completed the scoring on a dreadful night for Eastern, which condemns them to fifth spot in the Premier League table with 10 games gone, and in real danger of missing out on continental competition next season.

Kitchee strengthened their hold on top spot to maintain their unbeaten run and go six points clear of Pegasus at the summit.