In a thrilling Jockey Club Women's Football League FA Cup third-place match at Tsing Yi Northeast Park on Saturday (June 7), United Citizen secured third place honors after prevailing over Shatin in a dramatic penalty shootout following a 1:1 deadlock in regulation time.
The match burst into life early as United Citizen stamped their authority on proceedings. Their breakthrough came in the 6th minute when Kwan Wing Yu orchestrated a well-worked short corner routine, delivering an inviting cross from the right flank that Lau Nga Ching Katrina bundled home amid a chaotic goalmouth scramble, making it 1:0. United Citizen continued their offensive onslaught as the clock hit 10 minutes, with winger Chan Wing Ching showcasing her technical prowess by cutting inside from the left wing before unleashing a curling effort that whistled inches wide of the upright. The talented wide player threatened again moments later, leaving her marker for dead before whipping in a dangerous cross that Lau Yun Yi could only steer off target with a first-time effort. Shatin gradually worked their way into the contest, with Lee Wing Yan manufacturing space on the left before testing United Citizen's shot-stopper Lung Wing Yan with a well-struck attempt at the 20-minute mark.
The equalizer arrived in the 23rd minute through a moment of attacking brilliance. Lee Wing Yan again proved instrumental, cleverly working inside from the left channel before picking out Kung Yuet Charls, who rifled an unstoppable strike into the net from the edge of the area. Despite enjoying territorial advantage for the remainder of the opening period, United Citizen struggled to carve out clear-cut opportunities as both sides headed into the interval deadlocked at 1:1.
The second half saw both teams trading blows, with United Citizen's attacking duo Lau Nga Ching Katrina and Kwan Wing Yu trying their luck from distance without success, while Shatin's Chan Wing Sze forced a smart save from the keeper with a speculative effort from the right wing. The 68th minute saw United Citizen craft another promising opening, as Chong Ching Lam Jaylynn threaded an intelligent through ball from the right, but the unmarked Limbu Sneha couldn't capitalize, her effort being thwarted by Shatin's alert goalkeeper. Shatin nearly seized the advantage three minutes later when Chan Wing Sze rose highest to meet a left-wing cross, but her headed attempt drifted agonizingly wide of the woodwork. As the match entered its closing stages, United Citizen maintained their pursuit of a winner. Lau Yun Yi came close in the 81st minute with a fierce drive from an acute angle that required a magnificent fingertip save from Shatin's keeper. The final gilt-edged chance of regular time fell to Citizen's Chong Ching Lam Jaylynn, who found herself clean through on goal after a defense-splitting pass, but couldn't find the target from a tight angle.
With nothing separating the sides after 90 minutes of intense action, the match headed to a penalty shootout to determine the third-place winner. In the ensuing spot-kick drama, Shatin's hopes were dashed as Wong So Han blazed her effort over the crossbar and Lee Wing Yan saw her attempt expertly saved, while United Citizen displayed nerves of steel to convert all five of their penalties.
The final scoreline read 6:4 in United Citizen's favor on aggregate, securing them a well-deserved third-place finish in this season's Jockey Club Women's Football League FA Cup competition.





