AFC Champions League: Kitchee gunning for top spot against Cerezo Osaka after Port draw

‘I hope they can still keep fighting,’ says coach of injuries – ‘We still have a chance’

Orr leveller means Hong Kong champions need to beat Japan’s Cerezo Osaka by two goals to win the group

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Kitchee fans cheer on the team in a 2018 AFC Champions League match at Hong Kong Stadium. Photo: Jonathan Wong

Published: 12:01pm, 7 Jul 2021Updated: 12:01pm, 7 Jul 2021

Hong Kong Premier League champions Kitchee picked up another point in the AFC Champions League as their record-breaking run continued, with their chances of progress to the knockouts in their hands in Friday’s final group game.

Kitchee drew 1-1 with Thai side Port FC in the Champions League bubble in Buriram, Thailand, to move on to 10 points from five games in group J.

Pakorn Prempak opened the scoring for Port after 13 minutes with a free kick but Matthew Orr headed home the equaliser for the Hong Kong side five minutes later.

“The game was very tight and there was a lot of counter-attacking because both teams wanted to win,” Kitchee boss Alex Chu Chi-kwong said after the match. “My team’s performance today was very good, the defence kept their balance.

“We scored in the first half and the players were more confident and attacked more. They did well but they couldn’t win, so they were very upset. But I’m happy, I’m pleased.”

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