Crunch time as Eastern and Kitchee meet in winners-take-all league title showdown

Humiliated by Guangzhou Evergrande in the AFC Champions League recently, Chan Yuen-ting’s charges will be hoping to make things right on the domestic front as they take on the Caroliners at sold-out Mong Kok Stadium

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Eastern fans will be out in force as they support their team on the most important day of the domestic season. Photo: K. Y. Cheng

Published: 6:06pm, 5 May 2017Updated: 10:19pm, 5 May 2017

With the mental and physical scars healing from their Asian encounter with Guangzhou Evergrande, Eastern have a chance to salvage their season in a winners-take-all showdown for the Hong Kong Premier League on Saturday.

The defending champions play Kitchee at a sold-out Mong Kok Stadium with only one point separating the two heavyweights after 19 games.

Despite being humiliated 13-0 on aggregate by Evergrande in the AFC Champions League, Eastern are unbeaten in the domestic league, heading the standings with 49 points, while Kitchee, champions in 2015, are second on 48.

Eastern (15 wins and four draws) need only a draw to become the third team to win the championship with an unbeaten record after South China (1978, 1986) and Seiko (1979).

Eastern coach Chan Yuen-ting watches her charges during training. Chan became an instant celebrity after helping her side win last year’s league title. Photo: David Wong

Head coach Chan Yuen-ting, who became the first female to lead a men’s side to a top tier championship last season, said the pressure had been mounting with so much at stake in one match.