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Paul McNamara

Kitchee’s AFC Champions League hopes were left dangling by a thread after a ruinous 2-1 home defeat against Lion City Sailors at Hong Kong Stadium on Wednesday night.
The Hong Kong Premier League champions acted to resuscitate their ailing season last week, when they cast aside head coach Alex Chu Chi-kwong and placed Kim Dong-jin in interim charge.
But the South Korean saw his team completely outplayed in the opening 45 minutes of their group F clash, and a grandstand finish could not repair the damage.
Their bid to qualify for the knockout stage now hangs in the balance, following an opening round defeat to Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors in Jeonju.
Kitchee remove boss Chu, install Kim as Hong Kong football giants seek ‘harmony’
Singaporeans Lion City, on paper Kitchee’s weakest group opponents, were the faster, sharper, more aggressive, and more imaginative team on Wednesday.
They opened the scoring after 15 minutes, when centre-back Helio Goncalves failed to intercept Harris Harun’s pass from deep, inviting the powerful figure of Richario Zivkovic to arrow a ferocious cross-shot into the top corner. It was a rotten goal to concede.
Lion City moved farther ahead after the VAR intervened to tell referee Yoshima Yamashita that Ogenyi Onazi’s clumsy challenge on Maxime Lestienne happened inside the penalty area.
Yamashita overturned her original free-kick decision and goalkeeper Paulo Cesar had no chance with Lestienne’s strike into the corner.
Kitchee mustered a rally of sorts late in the half. Juninho’s weak connection from six yards allowed Zharfan Rohaizad to save, before the keeper stood tall to repel an angled Ruslan Mingazov drive.
Lion City were responsible for all the bright football, however, and Diego Lopes saw a shot come back off the inside of the post shortly before half-time.
Kim turned to midfielder Tan Chun-lok and marquee summer signing Jakob Jantscher to try to spark a turnaround, with the struggling Onazi and right-back Roberto Affonso Junior both failing to return after half-time.
Hong Kong football boss upbeat despite loss as Japan ease into Asian Games final
Kitchee applied a flurry of pressure shortly after the restart, but there was no visible plan beyond aiming balls into the final third and hoping something broke in their favour.
Juninho sharply pulled up with a hamstring injury to compound Kitchee’s misery.
The one piece of quality arrived with three minutes remaining, Jantscher meeting Law Tsz-chun’s sumptuous right-wing cross with a header into the corner.
Lion City’s composure gave way to panic and gamesmanship, and a host of Kitchee bodies exasperatedly slumped to the floor when Mingazov dragged a late shot inches wide.
The late burst of energy was not enough on a night when Kitchee too often contrived to make a Lion City side spearheaded by former Ajax striker Zivkovic look like Total Football experts.
The Hong Kong club have a big task on their hands to prevent their Champions League campaign finishing in total failure.


Singapore names Gavin Lee permanent head football coach after Hong Kong win

Roar trip: Singapore football fans land in Hong Kong for historic Asian Cup clash

Holders Al-Ahli top Asian Champions League Elite standings after big win

AFC Champions League 2: Inspired Tai Po fighting for Hong Kong’s reputation

AFC Champions League

AFC Champions League: Hong Kong champions Kitchee tripped up by Singapore’s Lion City Sailors

Alex Chu’s last game in charge of Kitchee was a victory over BC Rangers (pictured), but they have faltered in the AFC Champions League. Photo: Yik Yeung-man

Asian Games 2023: Hong Kong’s footballers put to the sword by Japan in chastening semi-final loss – as it happened

Japan’s Seiya Baba and Hong Kong’s Mathew Orr compete for the ball in their men’s football semifinal at the Asian Games. Photo: AFP

Asian Games 2023: goalkeeper says Hong Kong government does not value football, urges officials to act

The city’s goalkeeper Tse Ka-wing was instrumental in Monday’s match against Iran. Photo: Dickson Lee

The Hong Kong team celebrate their quarter-final win against Iran. Photo: Dickson Lee

Hong Kong will face Japan on Wednesday in their first-ever Asian Games semi-finals appearance. Photo: Dickson Lee

Goalkeeper Tse Ka-wing walks onto the pitch at the Shangcheng Sports Centre Stadium. Photo: Dickson Lee

Asian Games 2023: raging North Korea footballers attack referee following defeat by Japan

North Korea’s furious footballers aggressively confronted referee 
Rustam Lutfullin after their Asian Games exit. Photo: Philip Fong/AFP.

Captain Jang Kuk-chol led his out-of-control teammates in rounding on Uzbek official Lutfullin Photo: Kyodo.

North Korea’s fury stemmed from a decisive late penalty award for opponents Japan. Photo: Philip Fong /AFP

North Korea gleefully celebrated their equaliser but would soon be united in fury. Photo: AP Photo/Louise Delmotte

Sport

Football

Hong Kong

Kitchee pay heavy price for poor first-half performance against Lion City Sailors at Hong Kong Stadium
Hong Kong Premier League giants crash to their second defeat from as many AFC Champions League matches


Kitchee stage a late rally but cannot recover a two-goal deficit against Lion City Sailors on a miserable AFC Champions League night for the Hong Kong club.


Hong Kong Premier League