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Jonathan White

Hong Kong Premier League side Kitchee made history on Wednesday night by earning the city’s first-ever win in the AFC Champions League.
The league leaders beat Japanese side Kashiwa Reysol 1-0 at Hong Kong Stadium thanks to a late goal from right midfielder Cheng Chin-lung.
The winger cut inside after good work from former Uruguayan World Cup star Diego Forlan and unleashed a curling strike into the Japanese keeper’s top corner to ensure the first-ever win for a Hong Kong side in the continent’s premier competition.
Goalscorer Cheng couldn’t contain his delight after scoring the winning goal and giving his team a place in the record books.

“I’m excited and happy for two reasons. One: a very valuable three points, and the other a first-ever goal in the AFC Champions League. It will bring me more confidence.”
Watch: Cheng Chin-lung’s wonder strike for Kitchee


“I can score with both feet. I will always try to score and when I get the opportunity I will try to score.
“ The coaches encouraged me to shoot on sight.”
Kitchee’s first-ever Champions League victory could be just around the corner after narrow loss to Kashiwa Reysol
“The coach has given me a lot of playing time, opportunities and encouragement. Thanks to my dad too,who told me ‘You don’t shoot, you don’t score’. I also want to thank my teammates for keeping up the running and giving me a chance to win it for Kitchee.”
J-League side Kashiwa Reysol had beaten Kitchee 1-0 in Japan last week to leave the Hong Kong side with zero points after three games.

Many observers saw this as Kitchee’s best chance at getting a point on the board, a hope that was furthered once Kashiwa defender Masashi Kamekawa was sent off inside the first 10 minutes.
Kashiwa had the lion’s share of the possession and the chances despite being a man down but Kitchee plugged away and got the historic win.
Fans divided on how Kitchee can deliver on owner’s promise of besting Eastern in debut Champions League
Reysol coach Takehiro Shimetaira defended his decision to rest some of the J-League side’s star players, including Cristiano who started from the bench, rueing the red card.
Kitchee coach Chu Chi-kwong was well pleased with his team’s performance and the historic three points, which he said augurs well for the future.

“I’m really pleased. We managed to keep pace with one of the top teams in the competition. Kitchee will improve in the future. We have the ability to compete with the top teams in Asia.”
Chu was delighted Cheng had found the net, saying he had faith in his player and that he wasn’t surprised that he scored.
The Hong Kong champions take on Chinese Super League side Tianjin Quanjian at Mong Kok Stadium on April 4 and will look to add to their historic three points.

Tianjin Quanjian, who shocked Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors 4-2 at home in the other group E game of the evening, visit Kitchee on April 4.
Having now put Hong Kong’s first three points on the board in the Champions League there is no reason why Kitchee won’t believe they can get at least one more.
Kitchee’s next game is against BC Rangers in the Sapling Cup on Sunday.


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AFC Champions League

History made as Kitchee become first Hong Kong club to earn victory in the AFC Champions League

Kitchee Alex Akande (in blue) tries to score with his back to the net against Kashiwa Reysol. Photos: Winson Wong

(left to right): Yusuke Segawa from Kashiwa Reysol; and Helio Jose de Souza Goncalves from Kitchee at the AFC Champions League group match - Kitchee of Hong Kong vs Kashiwa Reysol of Japan, at the Hong Kong Stadium in Causeway Bay. 14MAR18 SCMP / Winson Wong

(left to right): Diego Forlán Corazo from Kitchee; and Ryoichi Kurisawa from Kashiwa Reysol at the AFC Champions League group match - Kitchee of Hong Kong vs Kashiwa Reysol of Japan, at the Hong Kong Stadium in Causeway Bay. 14MAR18 SCMP / Winson Wong

(centre left to right): Kazushige Kirihata from Kashiwa Reysol; and Lo Kwan-yee from Kitchee at the AFC Champions League group match - Kitchee of Hong Kong vs Kashiwa Reysol of Japan, at the Hong Kong Stadium in Causeway Bay. 14MAR18 SCMP / Winson Wong

(left to right): Tong Kin-man from Kitchee; and Ramon Lopes de Freitas from Kashiwa Reysol at the AFC Champions League group match - Kitchee of Hong Kong vs Kashiwa Reysol of Japan, at the Hong Kong Stadium in Causeway Bay. 14MAR18 SCMP / Winson Wong

AFC Champions League debutants Kitchee likely to feel full force of Chinese Super League sides ready to conquer Asia

Guangzhou Evergrande celebrate winning the AFC Champions League in 2015. Photo: Xinhua

Shanghai SIPG's Hulk(C) celebrates a goal during the AFC Champions League semi-final football match between Shanghai SIPG FC and Urawa Red Diamonds (Japan) in Shanghai on September 27, 2017. / AFP PHOTO / CHANDAN KHANNA

Shanghai Shenhua coach Wu Jingui (C) holds the trophy after winning the Chinese FA Cup football match final in Shanghai on November 26, 2017. Nigerian veteran striker Obafemi Martins scored a cracker as Shanghai Shenhua stunned rivals Shanghai SIPG to win the Chinese FA Cup final on away goals 3-3 on aggregate on November 26. / AFP PHOTO / STR / China OUT

(FILES) This file photo taken on March 4, 2017 shows Alexandre Pato (C) of Tianjin Quanjian fighting for the ball during the Chinese Super League match against Guangzhou R&F in Guangzhou, in southern China's Guangdong province. Alexandre Pato is rediscovering his love for football in China after a turbulent few years saw his career nosedive before he had even reached his prime. The 27-year-old forward hit a cracker from long distance in Tianjin Quanjian's 3-0 win on July 16, 2017 over Shanghai Shenhua, for whom Carlos Tevez now has just two league goals during an injury-disrupted season. / AFP PHOTO / STR / China OUT

Football players of Guangzhou Evergrande celebrate after winning the Chinese Super League (CSL) football tournament in Guangzhou, in China's southern Guangdong province on October 22, 2017. Luiz Felipe Scolari's rampant Guangzhou Evergrande won the Chinese Super League (CSL) for the seventh time in a row on October 22, and with two games to spare. / AFP PHOTO / STR / China OUT

Blond ambition: Former World Cup Golden Ball winner Diego Forlan signs for Kitchee

Uruguay's Diego Forlan celebrates with Luis Suarez during their Copa America semi-final win in 2011. Photo: Reuters

Manchester United's Diego Forlan celebrates scoring against Liverpool as keeper Jerzy Dudek, on ground, holds his head during their English Premier League soccer match at Liverpool's Anfield ground, England, Sunday Dec. 1, 2002. (AP Photo/PA, Martin Rickett) ** UNITED KINGDOM OUT MAGAZINES OUT NO SALES ONLINE OUT INTERNET OUT **

Cerezo Osaka forward Diego Forlan celebrates his goal against Gamba Osaka at J-league's Osaka derby match in Osaka on April 12, 2014. Forlan scored two goals and Cerezo and Gamba drew the game 2-2. AFP PHOTO / JIJI PRESS JAPAN OUT

Villarreal's Uruguayan Diego Forlan (L) greets Barcelona's Brazilian Ronaldinho, 22 May 2005, during their Spanish League football match at the Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona. The match ended in a 3-3 tie, in which Forlan scored all three goals. AFP PHOTO/MARCAMEDIA SPAIN OUT

Diego Forlan’s Kitchee will kick off AFC Champions League in China after Tianjin Quanjian avoid upset to Philippine underdogs

French striker Anthony Modeste playing for Koln in the German Bundesliga. Photo: AFP

Fans fly the flag and Forlan frustrated: 10 things we learned from Kitchee’s Champions League loss to Jeonbuk

Han Kyo-won from the Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors FC in action against Kitchee. Photo: Jonathan Wong

Fernando Recio Comi from Kitchee (right) in action during the Kitchee versus Jeonbuk Hyundai in Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Champions League at the Hong Kong Stadium in Causeway Bay. 20FEB18 SCMP / Jonathan Wong

Kitchee's Fernando Pedreira celebrates with fans after winning the Hong Kong Premier League after they beat Eastern in the last match of the season at Mongkok Stadium. 06MAY17 SCMP / Jonathan Wong

Kitchee fans in cheers during the Kitchee versus Jeonbuk Hyundai in Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Champions League at the Hong Kong Stadium in Causeway Bay. 20FEB18 SCMP / Jonathan Wong

Forlan fighting fit and raring to go for Kitchee in AFC Champions League despite taking a year out of the game

Diego Forlan is unveiled for Kitchee by head coach Alex Chu (L) and general manager Wilson Ng (R). Photo: Jonathan White

Arrival of Kitchee's foreign Uruguayan player Diego Forlan at the Hong Kong International Airport in Chek Lap Kok. 11JAN18 SCMP / Edward Wong

Sport

Football

Hong Kong

A brilliant last-minute strike from Cheng Chin-lung ensured all three points for the Hong Kong Premier League side
