HK U23 entertained Kwoon Chung Southern in Tseung Kwan O Sports Ground on Saturday afternoon for the second BOC Life Hong Kong Premier League fixture of the day. A Stefan Pereira hat-trick led Kwoon Chung Southern past HK U23 through a 3:1 victory.
HK U23 entertained Kwoon Chung Southern in Tseung Kwan O Sports Ground on Saturday afternoon for the second BOC Life Hong Kong Premier League fixture of the day. A Stefan Pereira hat-trick led Kwoon Chung Southern past HK U23 through a 3:1 victory.
Both sides traded goals early in the game, providing lots of entertainment for the supporters who braved the chilly weather and arrived on schedule.
On the 2nd minute, Kwoon Chung Southern duly opened the score. Awal Mahama delivered a great cross from the right wing and picked out teammate Stefan Pereira. The latter took down the ball nicely, then took care of the rest and blasted the ball home. Visiting Kwoon Chung Southern was leading 1:0 early in the game.
A few minutes later, the visitors added another goal. This time, a long throw-in from Kwoon Chung Southern was headed away by the HK U23 defense. Awal Mahama fired an acrobatic shot towards the net but was brilliantly turned away by HK U23 goalkeeper Michael Wan. Stefan Pereira was in perfect position and smashed the rebound home.
HK U23 seems to have waken up and responded on the 7th minute. Flying winger Krisna Korani did well on the left wing and knocked a well-placed centering pass into the Kwoon Chung Southern penalty area. Lam Chi-fung connected with a splendid header and sent the ball into the back of the Kwoon Chung Southern net.
Afterwards, Kwoon Chung Southern regained control of the game. Ju Yingzhi found a surging Jean Moser with a fine forward pass. Moser motored into the HK U23 box and pulled the trigger, only to witness his shot turned away by Michael Wan in goal.
Late in the first half, Kwoon Chung Southern produced another scoring chance. This time, Ju Yingzhi’s cross floated across the HK U23 goal mouth and reached teammate Paco Chan. Chan wasted no time and fired away, only to see his shot cleared off the goal line by a HK U23 player. The first half wrapped up with the visiting Kwoon Chung Southern enjoying a 2:1 lead over HK U23.
Kwoon Chung Southern started the second half brightly and expanded its lead on the 50th minute. Awal Mahama supplied a dangerous cross from the right wing. Ju Yingzhi connected with a timely shot at the back post but saw his effort headed into the HK U23 net by Stefan Pereira at the goal-mouth. Stefan Pereira earned his hat-trick in only fifty minutes of work. Kwoon Chung Southern was now leading 3:1.
Moments later, it was Kwoon Chung Southern once again. This time, Ju Yingzhi unleashed a cracking drive from distance, forcing out a spectacular flying save from HK U23 goalkeeper Michael Wan.
HK U23 produced a decent scoring chance on the 73rd minute. Lam Chi-fung picked up the ball well outside the Kwoon Chung Southern penalty area, then made a dashing run before firing away, only to witness his shot hitting an opposing player and bouncing out of play.
On the 76th minute, Kwoon Chung Southern nearly netted its forth goal of the game. Shu Sasaki knocked the ball towards the middle from the right wing and found Stefan Pereira. The latter went one-on-one against HK U23 goalkeeper Michael Wan but could not beat the latter with his shot.
The 3:1 score remained unchanged towards the final whistle, as Kwoon Chung Southern claimed a well-deserved away victory over HK U23.