South China will play Happy Valley in the Senior Shield final after they defeated Buler Rangers 3-1 at the Mongkok Stadium yesterday in an ill-tempered semi-final that saw nine players booked.
Five players from the Caroliners and four from Rangers were booked by referee Ng Kai-lam, whom South China's team director Peter Leung Shou-chi said 'did not control the game'.
The first goal of the game came in the 12th minute from South China striker Au Wai-lun. Au thought he had a second goal near the half-hour mark but Ng ruled it out for off-side even though the linesman did not raise his flag.
Rangers equalised in first-half injury time as midfielder Anilton da Conceicao scored in a goalmouth scramble following a Kim Pan-gon corner. Au did get his second goal in the second half after Brazilian teammate Cristiano Cordeiro charged down the field and set him up for a simple finish in the 34th minute. Rangers tried to fight back but the game was settled when substitute Poon Man-tik added a third goal for South China in stoppage time.
In the other semi-final Happy Valley came from behind to defeat Sun Hei 3-1 in an entertaining game with plenty of chances for both sides. Sun Hei got off to a good start as Lo Chi-kwan scored in the fifth minute, but Happy Valley equalised in first-half stoppage time through Barnes Colly Ezeh. Happy Valley added a second goal 10 minutes after the restart through Keith Gumbs.
In second-half injury time Sun Hei's Tseng Siu-wing was sent off for throwing a punch at Happy Valley's Martin Jancula inside the penalty box. The referee awarded a penalty and Leung Sing-kit converted to send Happy Valley through to Sunday's final.