A SEASON which began in frustration and uncertainty for striker Dale Tempest is ending in truly spectacular style.
At Mongkok Stadium last night, the 30-year-old Eastern marksman swept Hong Kong to an exhilarating 3-2 victory over Shanghai in the Interport Cup with another quality hat-trick.
Trailing 0-2 with only 20 minutes to go, Hong Kong appeared to be out for the count against opponents who looked much fresher and sharper.
But Tempest had other ideas and spearheaded a stirring late rally. First he headed home a cross from Lee Kin-wo in the 71st minute to give Hong Kong a glimmer of hope; then he sent the crowd wild in injury time by popping up unmarked on the far post to score with another header after his Eastern teammate, Ross Greer, had nodded on a right-wing corner from Lee Kin-wo.
There was no stopping Hong Kong now and, in the last minute of the first period of extra-time, Tempest powered clear on the right held off a couple of challenges from a tiring Shanghai defence and lobbed the ball over the 'keeper and into the far corner for his hat-trick and the winner.
It was a magnificent effort by the Hong Kong team, who could have been forgiven for going down with grace after a long drawn-out season and with English FA Cup runners-up Chelsea due here next Sunday to help the Hong Kong FA celebrate their 80th anniversary.