Kitchee clinch Hong Kong Premier League title – but should they stick or twist after Diego Forlan flop?
Champions retain their crown with a point against Pegasus at Mong Kok Stadium as attentions turn to AFC Cup, but their next moves could be telling
They’ve only gone and done it. Last season’s Hong Kong Premier League champions Kitchee needed just a point against second-placed Pegasus on Friday night to confirm the end of this season’s one-horse race and retain their title.
In the end it was comfortable thanks to Lucas scoring in the fourth minute and the crowd had got their full songbook out to serenade the champions by the final whistle.
That was the aim for Kitchee at the start of the season: to cement their place at the apex of Hong Kong football and secure continental competition for 2019. They have done that, and more.
These are their first back-to-back championships since the league rebranded to the Premier League in 2014-15. They have won three out of four titles since then.
Whether they play in the AFC Champions League or the AFC Cup will only be decided next year. Because Hong Kong’s coefficient has dropped over the last few years, they will not get a pass to the Champions League group stage in 2019.