HKFC hosted Tai Po at HKFC Football Ground on Sunday afternoon (5th January) for the BOC Life Hong Kong Premier League fixture. HKFC beat Tai Po by 2:0.
In a thrilling BOC Life Hong Kong Premier League encounter at the HK Football Club Ground on Sunday (5th January), the hosts HKFC clinched a convincing 2:0 victory over Tai Po, claiming all three points.
The deadlock was broken after just 10 minutes through a magnificent piece of play. The dynamic duo of Callum Beattie and Jesus Salazar orchestrated a sublime one-two combination before Calum Beattie unleashed an unstoppable left-footed drive from outside the area that flew into the net, making it 1:0 of HKFC
Drama unfolded when Chan Siu Kwan Philip went down under Toby Down's challenge following Michel Renner's defense-splitting through ball. However, after consulting VAR, the referee waved away penalty appeals due to Lucas Da Silva's handball in the build-up.
The hosts continued to dominate proceedings, and in the 36th minute, Wong Sum Chit Sherman showcased his skills by cutting inside from the left flank after collecting Mamadou Habib's precise long ball, only to see his right-footed effort safely gathered by the keeper.
HKFC doubled their advantage on the stroke of half-time through a well-worked move. The industrious Mamadou Habib connected with Jesus Salazar's pass before delivering an inch-perfect cross from the left, which Toby Down converted from close range.
The hosts went into the interval with a comfortable two-goal cushion.
After the restart, HKFC nearly extended their lead when Calum Beattie's pinpoint cross found Auston Kranick in the danger area, but his first-time effort whistled agonizingly wide of the target.
Tai Po showed signs of life around the hour mark when the pacey Lee Ka Ho carved open space on the right flank before finding Lee Lok Him, whose goal-bound effort was heroically blocked by the resolute HKFC defense.
The visitors continued to probe, and moments later, Lee Ka Ho's dangerous delivery found Nicholas Benavides, who could only find the side netting with his attempt.
Tai Po came closest to pulling one back in the 75th minute when Patrick Peral de Lima's spectacular 30-yard thunderbolt rattled the crossbar, leaving the goalkeeper stranded.
The pressure mounted as Lucas Da Silva showed excellent footwork to create space on the edge of the box after receiving Lee Ka Ho's pass, but his powerful drive was brilliantly tipped away by the athletic goalkeeper.
In the dying moments, Chan Siu Kwan Philip's goal-bound header was expertly claimed by the keeper, who then showed safe hands to deny Lucas Da Silva's well-struck effort from inside the area.
The final whistle confirmed HKFC's 2:0 victory over Tai Po, as they secured a vital clean sheet and all three points in this match.