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SCMP Reporter

'It was the second time that I have done that and I am really happy,' says Brazilian

Defending champions Xiangxue Sun Hei booked a place in the final of the Lanwa International FA Cup after thrashing Citizen 7-0 yesterday, the biggest winning margin so far this season.

And Brazilian Fladimir Freitas was the undisputed hero of the day, scoring five goals in the semi-final at Mongkok Stadium.

'It was the second time that I have done that in one match and I am really happy about my performance,' said the midfielder.

'The last time I got five was in 1999 when I played for Internacional in a provincial competition. It's just so good to score many goals in one match.'

Sun Hei coach Koo Luam Khen is now looking forward to the final where they will face league champions Happy Valley, who struggled to beat South China 2-1 in the earlier semi-final.

'We lost to them twice in cup ties this season, both were in penalty shootouts, but I don't think we need to go into the sudden-death ritual in the FA Cup, judging from our performance today,' said Koo. 'Even if the final had to be decided by a penalty shootout, we would stand a good chance of beating them.'

But Freitas, who has now scored 19 goals in all competitions and is likely to win the top-scorer award, remained cautious about their chances in the final.

'Valley are a very strong team and that's why they have snatched the league title before the end of the season. The two teams know each other very well as we have played many times this season, and I would rate it a 50-50 match,' he said.

Having surrendered three of the four titles they won last season, Sun Hei were desperate to salvage some pride in the last cup competition of the season. And they did not wait long before launching an onslaught against Citizen.

Freitas drew first blood with only 11 minutes gone when he powered home from an unmarked position in the penalty box.

Citizen didn't give up and Yuan Yang came to scoring an equaliser one minute later, but he failed to score after Sun Hei keeper Domingos Chan missed a cross.

Freitas scored again in the 22nd minute with a penalty. He was brought down by defender Festus Baise inside the box after a neat one-two move with Lo Chi-kwan and the Brazilian made no mistake from the spot.

Freitas should have made it 3-0 in the 27th minute but his header just missed the target.

However, he made amends a minute before half-time with a powerful half-volley from close range.

The Brazilian got his fourth goal in the 54th minute when he tapped home a cross from skipper Lee Kin-wo.

Freitas got number five before being subsituted by Chan Yiu-lun.

It proved a successful substitution as Chan found the net in the 71st minute and, one minute later, Lai Kai-cheuk wrapped up the match with the seventh goal for Sun Hei.



Five-goal Freitas is Sun Hei's hero