Kitchee's defensive errors allow India's East Bengal to fight back for 2-2 draw in AFC Cup
Local champions held 2-2 at home to finish second in group F
Two defensive blunders cost Kitchee victory as East Bengal snatched a 2-2 draw in an AFC Cup group game at Mong Kok Stadium on Tuesday night.
Kitchee were looking comfortable leading 2-0 until a lapse in concentration in the last 10 minutes allowed the Indians to draw their group F tie.
Kitchee still finished second in the group with 11 points to qualify for the knockout stage. Johor Darul Ta'zim, of Malaysia, beat Singapore's Balestier Khalsa 3-0 in another match to ensure top spot with 15 points.
"We could have scored five or six goals but were relaxed in the last 10 minutes," said Kitchee coach Jose Molina. "We have to remember a match will only be decided after 90 minutes."
We could have scored five or six goals but were relaxed in the last 10 minutes," said Kitchee coach Jose Molina. "We have to remember a match will only be decided after 90 minutes
Captain Lam Ka-wai, who scored the opening goal in the early stages, said the result was a wake-up call for the Hong Kong champions, who have failed to win in three games.
"We thought the job was done after scoring two goals," said the Hong Kong international. "We have lost our mental strength a bit after lifting the league trophy and of course the rotation system has also affected performance."