Resources Capital triumphed over Tai Po in the first round of the FA Cup at Mong Kok Stadium, advancing to the quarter-finals with a hard-fought 1:0 victory.
Tai Po went knocking on Resources Capital early in the first half, as Luiz Humberto set off an amazing run down the right flank but he couldn’t generate enough power on his shot and was easily collected by the goalkeeper. In contrast, Resources Capital wasted no time in making an impact. Just 3 minutes into the game, Yuen Sai Kit launched a left-sided attack, delivering a precise cross into the penalty area. Ho Sze Chit's shot was deflected by Tai Po's defender, and the ball fell kindly to the feet of Lee Ching, who swiftly buried it into the net with his right foot, opening the scoring at 1:0 in favor of Resources Capital.
Resources Capital continued to dominate, and in the 10th minute, Lam Lok Yin Jerry skillfully tackled Luiz Humberto's ball near the opponent's penalty area and curled a shot towards the goal. However, the goalkeeper made an acrobatic save, denying Resources Capital from extending their lead. Tai Po struggled to generate chances in the first half and finally had another attempt just before the break. Joao Emir's powerful strike from a cross by Luiz Humberto was valiantly blocked by Resources Capital's resolute defense. As the first half concluded, Resources Capital maintained their narrow 1:0 advantage.
Tai Po exhibited signs of improvement in the second half, and in the 60th minute, Luiz Humberto unleashed a long-range effort that narrowly missed the target. Nevertheless, Resources Capital swiftly responded. Ho Sze Chit fired a right-footed shot at the edge of the box, which was blocked by the defender. He immediately followed up with a second attempt, but the goalkeeper made an exceptional diving save to deny it.
In the 64th minute, Tai Po had their most promising chance to equalize. Cividini Gabriel Roberto expertly controlled a headed pass from Joao Lima and found Chan Siu Kwan Philip in a prime position in front of the goal. However, Chan's close-range strike was bravely blocked by the goalkeeper. Cividini Gabriel Roberto attempted a swift follow-up shot, but his effort sailed over the crossbar. Both teams produced some scoring chances late in the game, with Lam Lok Yin Jerry's thunderous shot from a tight angle spectacularly parried by the goalkeeper, and Estevez Emilio's long-range strike veering agonizingly wide in the 87th minute. In the dying moments of the match, Tai Po's Chung Wai Keung received his second yellow card and was subsequently sent off. Finally, Resources Capital preserved their hard-earned 1:0 victory until the final whistle, eliminating Tai Po and securing a berth in the quarter-finals of the FA Cup.