Kitchee played against Tai Po at Mong Kok Stadium on Wednesday night for the JC Sapling Cup Semi Final. Kitchee defeated Tai Po by 4:3 and promoted to the Final.
Tai Po launched an aggressive campaign right off the whistle, breaking the deadlock in the 6th minute. Lucas Da Silva, after receiving a pass from Chan Siu Kwan Philip, shook off his marker at the edge of the box and unleashed a powerful right-footed strike, giving Tai Po a 1:0 lead.
Despite trailing, Kitchee created their own opportunities. A cross from Shinichi Chan found Walter Junior in the penalty box, but his colse-range header sailed over the crossbar.
Tai Po, who had a dominant start, nearly doubled their lead in the 19th minute. Chan Siu Kwan Philip latched onto a pass from Michel Renner in the penalty box and drove the ball home from a tight angle. However, the referee annulled the goal after a VAR check, citing a preceding foul by Gerson Vieira.
Kitchee levelled the scoreline in the 33rd minute. Walter Junior delivered a cross from the left, and the unmarked Cheng Chin Long calmly controlled the ball before slotting it home, making it 1:1.
During injury time, Kitchee turned the tables. Shinichi Chan’s cross from the left resulted in a handball by Gabriel Roberto, and the referee pointed to the penalty spot. Mikael Burkatt stepped up and coolly converted, making it 2:1.
The pendulum swung again just before half-time. Michel Renner evaded his marker on the left wing and stormed into the penalty box, firing a high drive into the net, and drawing the first half to a 2:2 stalemate.
The second half continued to be a nail-biter. Kitchee, with a slight edge, regained the lead in the 61st minute. Jantscher Jakob made a driving run down the left flank before delivering a cross, and Walter Junior fired in from close range, pushing Kitchee ahead 3:2.
Tai Po, once again trailing, battled fiercely for an equalizer. In the 76th minute, Lucas Da Silva's powerful shot from a free-kick in the penalty box was heroically saved by the goalkeeper, and Gerson Vieira's follow-up shot failed to find the target.
The match reached fever pitch in the final ten minutes. In the 84th minute, Chan Siu Kwan Philip was brought down by Yibulayimu Kuerban in the box. Following a VAR review, the referee awarded a penalty. Lucas Da Silva's initial shot was parried by the keeper, but he quickly pounced on the rebound to equalise, making it 3:3.
In a dramatic turn of events during injury time, Tan Chun Lok met Jantscher Jakob's corner from the right with a decisive header, sealing the victory for Kitchee.
In the end, Kitchee triumphed in a 4:3 win over Tai Po, advancing to the JC Sapling Cup final.