Kitchee met Kwoon Chung Southern at Mongkok Stadium on Sat evening for the BOC Life Hong Kong Premier League fixture of the day. Kitchee drew Kwoon Chung Southern by 1:1.
Kitchee met Kwoon Chung Southern at Mongkok Stadium on Sat evening for the BOC Life Hong Kong Premier League fixture of the day. Kitchee drew Kwoon Chung Southern by 1:1.
The match kicked off with Kitchee on the front foot, as Rey Aaron orchestrated a swift attack, threading a pass to Luis Machado in the danger area. Machado's quick cross found Ruslan Mingazov, but the striker's effort sailed over the crossbar. Kitchee continued to press, with Ruslan Mingazov later combining with Tan Chun Lok before cutting inside from the left flank and unleashing a right-footed shot that narrowly missed the target.
The deadlock was nearly broken in the 13th minute when Kitchee won a corner. In the ensuing scramble, Welthon managed to fire a powerful shot from a tight angle on the left, finding the back of the net. However, jubilation turned to disappointment as VAR intervened, ruling out the goal due to an offside infringement in the build-up.
As the first half progressed, Kwoon Chung Southern grew into the game. Sasaki Shu carved open the Kitchee defense with a penetrating run, setting up Rocha Gregory on the edge of the box. Rocha Gregory's right-footed effort rattled the woodwork, a warning shot for the opposition.
The breakthrough came in the 39th minute for Kwoon Chung Southern. Sasaki Shu launched a pinpoint long ball from deep, finding Rocha Gregory in space. The forward showed composure to beat his marker and slot home from a tight angle, giving his side a 1:0 advantage.
Just before the interval, both sides had chances to alter the scoreline. Kitchee's Fernando Augusto unleashed a long-range effort that lacked the power to trouble the keeper, while Kwoon Chung Southern' Agosta saw his fierce drive from the right flank acrobatically saved. The whistle blew for half-time with Kwoon Chung Southern holding a slender 1:0 lead.
Kitchee came out firing in the second half, piling on the pressure. Fernando Augusto's dangerous free-kick found Diego Bardanca, whose header was expertly saved. Tan Chun Lok then tried his luck from distance after connecting with Rey Aaron's pass, but his effort failed to hit the mark.
The introduction of substitute Walter Junior injected new life into Kitchee's attack. The fresh legs immediately made an impact, first testing the keeper with a powerful left-footed drive from the edge of the area. Moments later, a clever one-two with Ruslan Mingazov created space in the box, but Walter Junior' shot from a tight angle was once again denied by the alert goalkeeper.
As the clock ticked down, Kitchee ramped up their offensive. Walter Junior beat his man on the left before delivering a teasing cross, but the unmarked Welthon couldn't keep his header down. In the 86th minute, another golden opportunity arose as Ruslan Mingazov's cross found Welthon at the far post, only for Kwoon Chung Southern' Kawase Kota to produce a spectacular goal-line clearance.
Kitchee's persistence finally paid dividends in the dying moments of the game. Walter Junior, combining well with Rey Aaron, unleashed a thunderbolt from the edge of the box that arrowed into the top corner, sending the Kitchee faithful into raptures.
There was still time for late drama in stoppage time. Kwoon Chung Southern' Yau Cheuk Fung dispossessed Ngan Cheuk Pan and burst into the penalty area, but his effort from an acute angle was expertly parried by the goalkeeper.
As the final whistle blew, honors were even. Kitchee and Kwoon Chung Southern settled for a 1:1 draw in this pulsating encounter, each side taking home a hard-earned point.