The 2023-24 FA Cup (Junior Division) Final was held at Po Kong Village Park last Sunday. After a 90-minute thriller, Central and Western District was the champion with a victory over South China in the final penalty shootout.

The Final was kicked off at 3 o’clock in the afternoon. On one side, Central and Western District was led by their Brazilian striker, David Teles Veloso. This league top-scorer was already dominating in the early stage of the match. His dominance was paid off in the 17th minute with a screamer in a counterattack from their half. Central and Western District led 1-0 over South China. On the other side, South China was not solely defending in their box but instead kept attacking with their wingers. Their Japanese winger, Takuya Tasaka, although he put a lot of pressure on the left side of the pitch with his outstanding dribbling skills, could not deliver the ball into the box. In the 27th minute, a freekick outside of the penalty box of South China was given to Central and Western District, and David Teles Veloso delivered again with another screamer. He put his team with a 2-0 lead over South China.

Although losing 2-0, South China did not give up the match and kept attacking after the restart. In the 38th minute, their U22 player Andy Wong crossed the bar on the left side. On the other hand, Central and Western District also missed a golden chance in a counterattack as the ball was barely passed over the goalie.

The Final was getting more intense in the second 45-minute half. Just three minutes after the restart, Au Man Lok scored for South China with a fantastic header over the experienced goalkeeper, Li Hon Ho. In the 78th minute, David Teles Veloso again missed a chance by striking the ball over the bar in a counterattack. It ain’t over till it’s over. South China managed to equalize in the 90th minute, as Kohei Ito delivered a superb forward pass to the front, and Kenta Hara finished this beautiful play. The game was then 2:2.

After a 90-minute thriller, the champion had to be decided by a penalty shootout. In the first round, both penalties were saved. In the fifth round, Li Hon Ho of Central and Western District stood up and saved the penalty again. In the end, the Brazilian top-scorer scored the game-decider penalty and delivered Central and Western District the champion of the 2023-24 FA Cup (Junior Division).