Kitchee too slick for Singapore side in AFC Cup opener
Kitchee made a flying start to the Year of the Goat on Tuesday night, bagging maximum points in their first AFC Cup group match of the season.
The Hong Kong club were too slick for Balestier Khalsa of Singapore with a 3-0 win in the group F clash at Mong Kong Stadium.
Kitchee coach Jose Molina was a happy man. "It was a good match. We had a lot of chances to score," he said. "Our defence was solid. It was a very good first step. We have five more steps [in the group stage] and we must fight a lot to reach our first aim, which is the last 16."
It was a very good first step. We have five more steps [in the group stage] and we must fight a lot to reach our first aim, which is the last 16
While key scorer Juan Belencoso missed a hatful of chances, the home side were just too good in front of more than 2,100 fans.
Kitchee, last year's semi-finalists, went ahead in the 21st minute when midfielder Xu Deshuai pounced on a poor clearance and slotted home.
In the 67th minute, Belencoso had a close-range shot blocked but midfielder Ngan Lok-fung scored on the rebound.
Jorge Tarres sealed the match with a goal in the 90th minute.
Balestier Khalsa assistant coach Darimosuvito Tokijan said anxiety got the better of his players. "Their spirit is there but they need to understand each other more," he said.
Meanwhile, South China will aim to turn around a mediocre season when they kick off their AFC Cup campaign against Philippine side Global in Manila on Wednesday night.
The opening group G match at Rizal Memorial Stadium is important for the former Hong Kong champions as they need a successful regional cup campaign to satisfy demanding boss Wallace Cheung Kwong-yung, who took over the team from Steven Lo Kit-sing last summer.
The Caroliners lie third in the domestic table and although they are only two points behind leaders Eastern, they have played two more games.
Unlikely to challenge for the title and coupled with defeat in the Senior Shield last four, South China are struggling to live up to expectations.
"South China are always under pressure to achieve results but we are confident of overcoming the difficulties," said captain Chan Wai-ho. "We have a good record in the AFC Cup and it will help us if we start the tournament in a convincing way.
"The team is in good form and the players are expecting a good game in the Philippines. The only worry is the floodlights are very dim and we will be playing on artificial turf."
