BC Rangers entertained RCFC in Hammer Hill Road Sports Ground on Sunday afternoon for the first BOC Life Hong Kong Premier League fixture of the day. BC Rangers put four goals past RCFC and came up with a 4:1 victory in front of its home supporters, while claiming maximum points.
BC Rangers entertained RCFC in Hammer Hill Road Sports Ground on Sunday afternoon for the first BOC Life Hong Kong Premier League fixture of the day. BC Rangers put four goals past RCFC and came up with a 4:1 victory in front of its home supporters, while claiming maximum points.
BC Rangers went testing RCFC’s resolve early in the game. On the 5th minute, Yumemi Kanda picked out Walter Junior with a fine pass. The latter fired away inside the RCFC box but saw his shot nicely claimed by Lam Chun-kit in net.
BC Rangers was handed an expected lead moments later. On the 9th minute, RCFC goalkeeper Lam Chun-kit received a back pass from a teammate and tried to kick the ball up the field. The ball somehow took a deflection off the pressing Yumemi Kanda in BC Rangers colors and entered the net. The home side was now up with a 1:0 lead.
BC Rangers kept the pressure coming and almost expanded its lead. On the 15th minute, Walter Junior unleashed a cracking shot from the top of the RCFC penalty area but saw his effort hitting the crossbar and staying out of the net.
RCFC found its footing somewhat and tried to make a comeback. On the 25th minute, Wong Wai-kwok teed up teammate Felipe Sa with a sideways pass. The Brazilian forward let rip but sent the ball over the BC Rangers net. RCFC was still down by a goal.
On the 40th minute, RCFC managed to tie the game in spectacular fashion. Felipe Sa gained control of the ball on the right wing but faced heavy challenges from several BC Rangers players. Sa managed to escape the tight surrounding and belted a sensational drive to the far corner of the BC Rangers net, leaving goalkeeper Leung Hing-kit with absolutely no chance. The game was suddenly tied at 1:1.
At the half time whistle, BC Rangers and RCFC found themselves locked in a 1:1 draw.
BC Rangers made several changes in the second half, hoping to restore its lead. On the 47th minute, Lau Chi-lok connected with Fernando Alcantara’s header and fired the ball home, putting BC Rangers in front 2:1.
On the 71st minute, the home side went knocking on the RCFC door once again. This time, Yumemi Kanda took an ambitious free-kick near the half way line but could not beat RCFC goalkeeper Lam Chun-kit with his effort.
BC Rangers pulled further away on the 80th minute, as the referee spotted an RCFC player committing hand ball inside his own penalty area. The referee duly pointed to the penalty spot. Yumemi Kanda buried the penalty-kick for BC Rangers and made it 3:1.
Late in the game, BC Rangers launched a dangerous counter-attack, with the speedy Lau Chi-lok finding teammate Lo Kwan-yee through a fine pass. Lo took care of the rest and sent the ball into the RCFC net. BC Rangers was now leading 4:1.
Both sides failed to add to the score in the remaining regulation time, as BC Rangers edged RCFC 4:1 in the premier league fixture and came up with all three points.