A spectacular header from Slovakian striker Martin Jancula bolstered Instant-Dict's dreams of winning the Hong Kong First Division championship phase - and effectively killed off South China's hopes of turning their season around.
Jancula flicked in Chan Chi-kwong's right-wing cross in the 72nd minute to sound the death knell for the Caroliners who will finish the season empty-handed for the first time since 1995.
South China team director Peter Leung Shou-chi knew last night's game at Hong Kong Stadium presented the last chance for the Caroliners to salvage something out of their season.
'That's it for us. We have lost. We needed it to win to stay in the hunt, but we have now been beaten. I don't know what is going to happen to us next season,' said Leung.
Jancula scored his ninth goal in eight games in Instant-Dict's sixth straight victory in all competitions. Instant-Dict have not lost since the League Cup semi-finals in February, but Dickies' coach Kwok Ka-ming was playing it safe last night.
'We are leading the championship phase at the moment, but we still have two more tough matches to go,' said Kwok.