Kitchee’s first-ever Champions League victory could be just around the corner after narrow loss to Kashiwa Reysol
Junya Ito scores to sink Chu Chi-kwong’s side while Ricardo Goulart fires Guangzhou Evergrande to epic comeback victory
Kitchee may have lost their third match in as many attempts in the AFC Champions League on Tuesday night, but they went down fighting in a 1-0 loss to Japan’s Kashiwa Reysol.
Chu Chi-kwong’s side fought hard throughout and it was only Junya Ito’s tap-in from close range in the 66th minute that separated the sides – although Kashiwa did have their chances to double the margin late in proceedings.
The result was an improvement on Kitchee’s 6-0 drubbing at the hands of Korean side Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors in their last Champions League outing at Hong Kong Stadium two weeks ago.
Watch: highlights of Kitchee v Kashiwa Reysol
It will give them confidence ahead of the return leg against Kashiwa in Hong Kong on March 14 and raises hope that the side’s first ever win in the competition might be within reach.