Kitchee close in on third FA Cup final in a row after beating South China on penalties
Rivals finish 0-0 after 120 minutes; Kitchee now face BC Rangers in semi-finals
Kitchee moved a major step closer to their second trophy of the season after dumping rivals South China out of the FA Cup yesterday.
Despite many close chances, neither side were able to break the deadlock in the quarter-final tie in normal and extra time; Kitchee, who have sewn up the league title already this term, triumphed on penalties 3-1.
They now meet BC Rangers for a place in their third consecutive FA Cup final – they won both the previous two.
Rangers beat I-Sky Yuen Long 5-4 on penalties after they also both failed to score after 120 minutes.
“We did expect the penalty situation because the two teams are very close, and practised spot-kicks during training,” said Kitchee acting head coach Chu Chi-kwong.
“Our players were therefore very confident, especially the goalkeeper who had studied hard South China players’ penalty preferences before the match. In the end, our effort paid off.
“It was a tense match because both sides wanted to open the scoring first. South China pressed us hard in the first half and created more chances, especially when Fernando Recio was taken off injured. But the players showed great composure, hanging in there and gradually getting back after the break.”
Kitchee started the game without their prolific striker Juan Belencoso, out with a back injury. Coupled with Recio’s injury midway through the first half, the coach has worries for their AFC Cup round of 16 tie.