RCFC entertained BC Rangers on Sunday afternoon for the last remaining BOC Life Hong Kong Premier League battle of the weekend. A brace from Yumemi Kanda, plus a late goal from Jesse Yu, powered BC Rangers past RCFC by 3:1 on the day.
RCFC entertained BC Rangers on Sunday afternoon for the last remaining BOC Life Hong Kong Premier League battle of the weekend. A brace from Yumemi Kanda, plus a late goal from Jesse Yu, powered BC Rangers past RCFC by 3:1 on the day.
BC Rangers enjoyed better ball possession in the early going and took the game towards RCFC. On the 3rd minute, Yumemi Kanda delivered a swirling free-kick into the RCFC box and caused havoc. Marco Wegener seized the moment and drove a spectacular shot towards the net, but could not hit the target with his strike.
BC Rangers kept going and duly opened the score on the 8th minute. Lam Ka-wai picked up the ball on the left flank and found Yumemi Kanda in the middle with a clever pass. The Japanese attacker fired a one-timer and found the back of the RCFC net through the far side. BC Rangers was up 1:0.
RCFC tried to answer back and came close on the 13th minute. Jordan Lam knocked a dangerous cross into the BC Rangers box. Robert Odu dished out a tasty header but could not beat BC Rangers goalkeeper Leung Hing-kit with his effort.
BC Rangers almost doubled its lead on the 18th minute, as Yumemi Kanda’s curling free-kick sailed just wide off the RCFC goal. RCFC certainly dodged a bullet on the occasion.
RCFC nearly drew level on the 21st minute, as Pablo Gallego’s free-kick was smartly paved away by the extremely alert Leung Hing-kit in goal.
However, the home side was not to be denied and pulled level shortly past the half hour mark. On the 33rd minute, Cheng King-ho knocked a sweet cross into the BC Rangers box and found Pablo Gallego. The latter leapt high and nodded the ball into the net, making it a 1:1 game.
Late in the first half, BC Rangers almost nicked the lead. On the 38th minute, Walter Junior broke behind the RCFC defense and darted into the box. The Brazilian forward went one-on-one against the courageous RCFC goalkeeper Lam Chun-kit but could not beat the latter with his shot. The first half completed with both sides locked in a 1:1 draw.
BC Rangers almost went in front shortly after the game resumed in the second half. On the 50th minute, Yumemi Kanda’s sublime free-kick was tipped away by Lam Chun-kit in the RCFC net. However, the ball hit the crossbar and stayed in play. Lau Chi-lok fired a quick shot but ended up hitting the side netting.
The visitors were presented with a glorious chance to re-establish its lead. On the 63rd minute, RCFC’s Ricardo Sendra failed to control the ball inside his own penalty area, then brought down BC Rangers’ Lam Ka-wai. The referee quickly pointed to the penalty spot and awarded BC Rangers with a penalty shot. Yumemi Kanda buried the spot-kick with confidence and made it 2:0 for BC Rangers.
On the 80th minute, BC Rangers had a glorious chance to pull further away. A lovely forward pass by Lam Hin-ting sprung teammate Walter Junior behind the RCFC defense. The BC Rangers forward fought off pressure from RCFC’s Yip Cheuk-man, dashed into the box and fired away, only to witness his shot hitting the side netting.
BC Rangers added another goal late in the game. On the 86th minute, Jesse Yu intercepted an RCFC pass inside penalty area and cooly slotted the ball into the net. It was now 3:0 for the visiting BC Rangers.
In stoppage time, RCFC had a great chance to pull closer on the scoreboard, yet Wong Ching-tak’s tight-angle shot was brilliantly paved away by BC Rangers goalkeeper Leung Hing-kit.
Both sides failed to add to the score in the remaining regulation time, as BC Rangers defeated RCFC through a 3:1 victory on the day.