Kitchee and BC Rangers renewed hostilities in Mongkok Stadium on a cool Sunday afternoon for a fiercely contested Sapling Cup Group B encounter. BC Rangers’ Japanese debutant Kanda Yumemi bagged a memorable brace in the game and powered his side past Kitchee 2:1 in the Sapling Cup Group B battle.
Kitchee and BC Rangers renewed hostilities in Mongkok Stadium on a cool Sunday afternoon for a fiercely contested Sapling Cup Group B encounter. BC Rangers’ Japanese debutant Kanda Yumemi bagged a memorable brace in the game and powered his side past Kitchee 2:1 in the Sapling Cup Group B battle.
Kitchee fired an early warning shot to the BC Rangers net on the 6th minute. Cleiton Velasquez dished out a curling free kick that bent over the BC Rangers defensive wall but went wide off the intended target.
On the 15th minute, it was BC Rangers’ turn. The Kitchee defensive crop failed to clear away a BC Rangers free kick. BC Rangers speedster Lau Chi-lok seized the opportunity and belted an acrobatic strike towards the Kitchee net, only to send the ball wide.
Kitchee went knocking on the BC Rangers door on the 19th minute. Fernando Pedreira gained control of the ball down the left flank and drilled a long range right footer towards the net. However, BC Rangers goalkeeper Lo Siu-kei was in perfect position and pulled out an easy save.
It was still Kitchee afterwards. On the 29th minute, Dejan Damjanovic teed up teammate Cheng Chin-lung with a lovely sideway pass. Cheng found enough opening near the edge of the BC Rangers penalty area and pulled the trigger on a powerful strike. The ball looked set to enter the BC Rangers net, only to be paved away at the very last moment by a flying Lo Siu-kei in net.
On the 43rd minute, Kitchee generated another solid scoring chance. Veteran striker Dejan Damjanovic connected with a teammate’s centering pass and delivered a leaping header towards the net, only to send his effort wide.
Moments later, Kitchee’s Sohgo Ichikawa belted a tight angle shot straight at the BC Rangers goal. However, Goalkeeper Lo Siu-kei stood his ground and defused the danger with a smart save. The first half eventually finished with Kitchee and BC Rangers firmly locked in a goalless draw.
BC Rangers produced the first scoring chance in the second half. On the 49th minute, Japanese debutant Kanda Yumemi belted a long range shot at the Kitchee goal, only to send the ball wide.
BC Rangers shocked Kitchee by taking the lead early in the second half. On the 53rd minute, midfielder Kanda Yumemi drove a dipping free kick straight towards the Kitchee net from distance. The ball took a bounce right in front of Kitchee goalkeeper Wang Zhenpeng and snuck into the net. BC Rangers was up 1:0 at this point.
BC Rangers managed to double its lead on the 64th minute. Kanda Yumemi uncorked a sweet curling free kick towards the Kitchee net from distance once again. Kanda’s beautifully taken free kick evaded the Kitchee defensive wall, beat goalkeeper Wang Zhenpeng cleanly and found the back of the net. BC Rangers was now leading by 2:0.
Kitchee regained composure and pulled one back on the 74th minute. Law Tsz-chun pushed forward with the ball and fired away from just outside the BC Rangers penalty area. The ball took a deflection off a BC Rangers player and fell in front of veteran Dejan Damjanovic. The latter kept his cool and drilled the ball home with ease, cutting BC Rangers lead into half.
Kitchee kept coming towards BC Rangers, hoping to seek the tying goal. On the 89th minute, Oliver Gerbig delivered a well-placed cross into the BC Rangers penalty area. Fernando Pedreira soared high but headed the ball just over the crossbar.
BC Rangers held onto the one-goal lead all the way towards the final whistle, as the side secured a memorable 2:1 victory over Kitchee in the Sapling Cup Group B battle.