Lau Chi-keung scored from the penalty spot in injury time to help Hong Kong champions Sun Hei see off Lebanese side Al Ahed 3-1 and advance to the semi-finals of the AFC Cup at Hong Kong Stadium last night.
Coming back from a 1-0 first-leg deficit, striker Julius Akosah scored from a rebound in the 42nd minute to set the ball rolling for Sun Hei. But Mohammed Abou Atiq then equalised two minutes after the restart to hand the advantage back to the visitors.
Veteran winger Lee Kin-wo, who came in as a second-half replacement for Chan Yiu-lun, drilled in a left-footed shot to put the home team in the lead again in the 51st minute. But with Al Ahed having the vital away-goal advantage, Lau's late penalty, awarded for a foul on Leung Chi-wing, proved crucial.
Sun Hei coach Koo Luam Khen said both sides didn't play particularly well, although he was pleased his team had done enough to earn a semi-final spot for the first time in the tournament after completing a 3-2 aggregate victory.
'Both sides didn't play well and the weather conditions made it hard because it was hot and very humid,'' said Koo.
'Sun Hei were definitely the fresher and more enterprising of the two sides. It's good to come back from a 1-0 first-leg deficit and win this. We have a chance of reaching the final.''