Kitchee took on Lee Man on Sunday afternoon in Mongkok Stadium for an all-important BOC Life Hong Kong Premier League affair. Kitchee trailed on two separate occasions in the game but managed to draw Lee Man 2:2 on the evening and claimed this season’s BOC Life Hong Kong Premier League title.
Kitchee took on Lee Man on Sunday afternoon in Mongkok Stadium for an all-important BOC Life Hong Kong Premier League affair. Kitchee trailed on two separate occasions in the game but managed to draw Lee Man 2:2 on the evening and claimed this season’s BOC Life Hong Kong Premier League title.
With practically the premier league title on the line, both sides started the game rather cautiously. However, it was Lee Man that opened the score on the 9th minute. Everton Camargo flew down the right wing and knocked a low cross towards the middle. Manuel Bleda took up great position and side-footed the ball into the Kitchee net, putting the visitors in front 1:0.
Kitchee tried hard to draw level and found the equalizer on the 23rd minute. Ruslan Mingazov did well on the left wing, picked up the ball and darted into the box. Lee Man defender Fernando Recio brought down the Kitchee winger inside the penalty area and the referee quickly pointed to the penalty-spot. Mikael Severo shouldered the spot-kick duty for Kitchee and coolly fired the ball into the net, tying the game at 1:1 for Kitchee.
Later on, Kitchee had a solid chance to pull in front, as a combination from Cleiton Velasques and Mikael Severo saw the ball reaching teammate Fernando Pedreira. The latter pulled off a tight-angle shot but could not beat Lee Man goalkeeper Chan Ka-ho with his effort.
Late in the first half, Kitchee had one more chance to pull in front, as Ruslan Mingazov connected with a teammate’s free-kick and headed the ball wide.
The first half completed with both sides tied at 1:1.
Lee Man started the second half brightly and almost regained the lead. On the 47th minute, Ryoya Tachibana motored into the Kitchee box and fired a right-footer towards goal, only to be easily handled by Kitchee goalkeeper Paulo Da Silva.
Lee Man kept pressing for the go-ahead goal. On the 63rd minute, Everton Camargo unleashed a curling free-kick from the top of the Kitchee box but sent the ball over the crossbar.
The game took a wild turn on the 64th minute, as Kitchee’s Ruslan Mingazov picked up his second yellow card of the game and his subsequent marching order. Kitchee was down to ten men.
Shortly afterwards, Lee Man came close to pulling in front, yet Everton Camargo’s sublime free-kick was splendidly saved by Paulo Da Silva in the Kitchee net.
Lee Man went in front for the second time of the game. On the 73rd minute, Wong Wai’s free-kick on the right wing was nodded home by Everton Camargo. Lee Man was now leading 2:1.
However, Lee Man’s joy was short-lived, as Kitchee duly drew level on the 76th minute. Igor Sartori floated a teasing free-kick into the Lee Man penalty area. Substitute Andrew Russell was unmarked and headed the ball into the far side. The game was all squared at 2:2.
Lee Man went searching for the go-ahead goal once again. On the 89th minute, Everton Camargo cut towards the middle and fired a left footer that just sailed over the Kitchee goal.
Deep in stoppage time, Lee Man’s Everton Camargo was shown a straight red card on a foul. Lee Man was also left with ten men on the pitch.
Both sides failed to add to the score in the remaining regulation time, as Kitchee and Lee Man finished the entertaining affair in a 2:2 draw.