2025-05-20

In a thrilling encounter at Tsang Tai Uk Recreation Ground on Tuesday (May 20), Kitchee mounted a spectacular second-half comeback to clinch third place in the Jockey Club Women's Youth Football League (U18) FA Cup, overcoming WSE 3:1 in a pulsating contest.

The Kitchee squad showed early intent, with Cheng Ching Kiu rising highest to meet Hung Wing Tung Xyza's pinpoint corner delivery from the right flank, but the header sailed marginally over the woodwork in the 4th minute. The attacking momentum continued as Hung Wing Tung Xyza unleashed a thunderous strike from distance at the quarter-hour mark, forcing custodian Liu Sze Ki into a spectacular fingertip save to push the ball over the crossbar. Against the run of play, WSE broke the deadlock in stunning fashion on 18 minutes. Poon Tsz Ching spotted the keeper off her line and executed an exquisite chip from 30 yards out that nestled perfectly into the back of the net, making it 1:0. The response from Kitchee was immediate, with Fung Ting Yin nearly restoring parity a minute later. She connected with another dangerous corner from the right, but her close-range effort whistled agonizingly over. As the first half drew to a close, WSE threatened to double their advantage when Razon Sophia Nicole Repaso met a searching cross from the left wing, but her point-blank effort was expertly parried away by the alert Kitchee shot-stopper. The teams headed into the interval with WSE protecting their slender one-goal advantage.

After the restart, Kitchee dominated proceedings. The 50th minute saw Tang Tsz Wan unleash a fierce drive from outside the area, forcing Liu Sze Ki into another fine save. Moments later, Fung Ting Yin's snapshot from a well-worked free-kick routine was expertly thwarted by the increasingly busy Liu Sze Ki. The breakthrough finally came in the 53rd minute through a moment of magic, as Tang Tsz Wan's in-swinging corner from the left flank evaded everyone and curled majestically into the far corner, bringing the scores level. The momentum shift was complete four minutes later when Warwick Christina Summer's teasing delivery from the right wing caused havoc in the WSE penalty area, allowing Cheng Ho Ka to pounce and slot home from close range, completing the turnaround.

Kitchee continued to press for a third, with Yullia Ota blazing over from a promising position following a right-wing cross in the 70th minute. Shortly after, Cheng Ching Kiu tested Liu Sze Ki with a venomous long-range effort that the keeper handled well. The relentless pressure almost paid dividends in the 85th minute when Fung Ting Yin carved open the defense with a clever one-two combination but found herself denied by the onrushing goalkeeper in a one-on-one situation. Victory was finally secured in the dying moments when Hung Wing Tung Xyza rose magnificently to meet Tang Tsz Wan's precise corner delivery from the left, powering home a header that left the keeper with no chance.

The final whistle confirmed Kitchee's impressive comeback victory, securing them the 3rd place in this prestigious youth tournament with a well-deserved 3:1 triumph over WSE.