AN all-Chinese outfit woke up to the harsh realities of life in the top flight of Hong Kong women's hockey yesterday when they were dealt a lesson at King's Park in the final of the Knockout Cup.
But Zenith had already made history by becoming the first all-Chinese team to reach a Hong Kong Cup final and nobody gave them much of a chance of pulling off an upset against multiple-league champions Hong Kong Football Club A. Although soundly thrashed 6-0 yesterday, Zenith were still pleased to have taken their place in the final.
They had dumped Kowloon Cricket Club A, the league's runners-up, 2-1 in the semi-finals thanks to a brace of goals from Lisa Lai.
Zenith were beaten by Club 4-1 in their previous encounter in the league and any thoughts of an upset were wiped away by a breathtaking second-half performance from Club.
Club's Ellen Ip, Danny Seradi and Chris Garzmann scored two goals apiece as the Sports Road side snatched the 'double', having already retained the league title earlier in the season.
'Never before has an all-Chinese team done so well in a Cup tournament and we were proud to have reached the final, said Zenith coach Lee Chun-kay.
'The girls worked hard to get to the final.
