BC Rangers met Eastern at Mongkok Stadium on Sun evening for the BOC Life Hong Kong Premier League fixture of the day. Eastern defeated BC Rangers by 5:1.
BC Rangers met Eastern at Mongkok Stadium on Sun evening for the BOC Life Hong Kong Premier League fixture of the day. Eastern defeated BC Rangers by 5:1.
BC Rangers, demonstrating attacking intent from the kick-off, saw Ibrahim unleash a ferocious shot in the 5th minute, only to be denied by a stalwart save from the keeper. Lau Chi Lok subsequently had a crack at the target, but his attempt was off the mark.
Contrary to the run of play, Eastern drew first blood. In the 19th minute, a surgical free-kick delivery from Yu Joy Yin Jesse found its way into the penalty box, where Tamirlan Kozubaev connected with a thunderous header into the far post, handing Eastern a 1:0 lead.
The 21st minute saw BC Rangers seize an opportunity, with Ibrahim exploiting his blistering pace to outstrip his marker on the right flank and deliver a cross. Unfortunately, the unmarked Lam Hin Ting couldn't steer his shot on target.
The 31st minute presented BC Rangers with a golden opportunity to level the scores when Tamirlan Kozubaev was adjudged to have committed a handball foul in the penalty box. However, Lau Chi Lok's spot-kick was heroically parried by the goalkeeper.
Eastern, having dodged a bullet, consolidated their lead in the 39th minute. An errant back pass from Rindo Makoto was intercepted by Yu Joy Yin Jesse. Despite the goalkeeper foiling Yu's breakaway, the ball fortuitously fell to Baffoe Noah, who promptly dispatched a long-range effort into the open goal, doubling Eastern's advantage to 2:0.
On the brink of half-time, Eastern further extended their lead through a swift counter-attack. Yu Joy Yin Jesse's strike on goal was parried by the keeper, but Baffoe Noah was on hand to notch his brace, sending Eastern into the break with a commanding 3:0 lead.
Undeterred, BC Rangers mounted a spirited resurgence in the second half and clawed one back in the 56th minute. Marcos Gondra's clumsy challenge on Remi Dujardin in the penalty area prompted the referee to point to the spot. Kanda Yumemi stepped up and rifled the ball into the net, reducing the deficit to 1:3.
However, BC Rangers' uphill battle was further complicated in the 79th minute when Chan Yiu Cho Joe was given his marching orders after receiving his second yellow card. Reduced to ten men, BC Rangers found themselves on the back foot once again, conceding two late goals in injury time. Choi Woojae's handball in the box led to a penalty that was coolly converted by Yu Joy Yin Jesse, widening the gap to 4:0. This was swiftly followed by a blistering right-footed strike from Ng Yu Hei that found the far post.
Finally, Eastern emerged victorious with a resounding 5:1 triumph over BC Rangers, bagging all three points.