Eastern scrape through to Senior Shield final after 1-0 win over BC Rangers
- Coach Roberto Losada says team dropped after early goal in second half, but remains confident of Kitchee showdown in Lunar New Year
- BC Rangers director Phillip Lee Fai-lap disappointed with foreign players, who could do little to help team in crucial moments
Eastern scraped through to the Senior Shield final after a lacklustre 1-0 victory over BC Rangers at Mong Kok Stadium on Boxing Day.
Victor Bertomeu scored the only goal early in the second half, thanks to the hard work of Hong Kong international Sun Ming-him who chased all the way down to the right before cutting back to cross the ball in.
Eastern midfielder Wong Ho-chun missed the chance in the middle but not Bertomeu, who came in at the right time to slot home from close range to give them the badly needed goal.
They will now face Kitchee in the final to decide the first trophy of the season, as the Football Association intended to schedule it for the Lunar New Year in the absence of any international cup tournament.
But Kitchee look like the favourite after thrashing another top team Lee Man 4-0 in the other semi-finals.
Even Eastern coach Roberto Losada, a former Kitchee striker when he won the Hong Kong Footballer of the Year title more than a decade ago, could only smile when he was asked about their chance against Kitchee in the final.