Eastern and Kitchee squared off in Mongkok Stadium on Easter Monday for an all-important JC Sapling Cup Group B clash. Eastern and Kitchee traded goals throughout the game, eventually settling on an exciting 2:2 draw at the final whistle.
Eastern and Kitchee squared off in Mongkok Stadium on Easter Monday for an all-important JC Sapling Cup Group B clash. Eastern and Kitchee traded goals throughout the game, eventually settling on an exciting 2:2 draw at the final whistle.
Eastern started the game aggressively and went knocking on the Kitchee door. On the 2nd minute, Sun Ming-him created havoc down the left wing and knocked the ball towards the middle. Victor Bertomeu unleashed a quick shot but ended up hitting the crossbar and staying out of the net.
Shortly afterwards, it was Eastern once again. This time, Leung Kwun-chung’s corner-kick somehow reached Victor Bertomeu at the back post. The latter teed up Marcos Gondra with a soft pass. The Spanish midfielder wasted no time and drilled the ball into the Kitchee net, putting Eastern in front 1:0.
Kitchee gradually settled down and started to take the game back to Eastern. A Kitchee corner-kick was punched away by Chung Hoi-man in the Eastern net. Fernando Pedreira whipped a deep cross into the Eastern box. Helio Goncalves applied a leaping header from tight angle but ended up hitting the woodwork.
Afterwards, Kitchee kept pressuring the Eastern yet, yet long range shots from Charlie Scott, Law Tsz-chun and Yuen Chun-him all failed to trouble Eastern goalkeeper Chung Hoi-man.
The first half finished with Eastern enjoying a 1:0 lead over Kitchee.
Kitchee regrouped during the interval and came out even more determined. The Shek Mun side duly tied the game on the 52nd minute, as Ruslan Mingazov connected with an Igor Sartori delivery and headed the ball home in style. The score was now 1:1.
Eastern nearly regained the lead on the 54th minute, as Victor Bertomeu’s free-kick hit the goal-post and went out of play. It was a sweet effort by the Eastern forward.
Eastern came close once again on the 68th minute through another free-kick. This time, Marcos Gondra belted a dipping free-kick straight towards the Kitchee net, only to be paved away by Kitchee goalkeeper Wang Zhenpeng in spectacular fashion.
Shortly afterwards, Eastern went in front once again. Marcos Gondra pressured the ball off a Kitchee player and allowed Sun Ming-him to run with the ball. The Hong Kong international striker shook off his markers and blasted the ball home from distance, making it 2:1 for Eastern.
On the 81st minute, Kitchee almost tied the game for the second time, as Cleiton Velasques sent a long ball into the Eastern penalty area. Ruslan Mingazov applied a flick-shot but could not hit the target with his effort.
Late in the game, Kitchee equalized once again, as Helio Goncalves headed home Igor Sartori’s cross and made it 2:2.
Both sides failed to add to the score in the remaining regulation time, as Eastern and Kitchee shook hands on an exciting 2:2 draw.