Lee Man met up with Kitchee in Mong Kok Stadium on Saturday afternoon for the 2024-25 HKFA Senior Shield Semi-Finals. Lee Man beat Kitchee by 2:1 and promoted to the finals.
Lee Man met up with Kitchee in Mong Kok Stadium on Saturday afternoon for the 2024-25 HKFA Senior Shield Semi-Finals. Lee Man beat Kitchee by 2:1 and promoted to the finals.
The opening exchanges saw both sides sizing each other up in a cagey affair, with neither team willing to commit too many men forward. The deadlock was finally broken in the 16th minute when the clinical striker Henri Aniya pounced on a costly defensive error from Bae Jaewoo. The forward showed excellent composure to race through on goal and slot home past the onrushing Fynn Talley, despite the keeper's desperate attempt to make the save.
Kitchee looked to respond midway through the first period when Bar Jaewoo’s clever throw-in found Poon Pui Hin in space, but he could only drag his effort wide of the far post with his right foot.
Kitchee’s persistence paid off moments before the interval. Rey Aaron’s dangerous delivery from the left flank took a wicked deflection off Wong Wai, forcing Chan Ka Ho into an acrobatic save. However, the keeper could only palm the ball onto the woodwork, allowing the predatory Sherzod Temirov to react quickest and bundle home the equalizer.The first half ended with 1:1.
Lee Man came flying out of the blocks after the restart and regained their advantage within 120 seconds. The in-form Everton Camargo stepped up to curl a magnificent left-footed free-kick into the top corner, leaving the goalkeeper rooted to the spot.
Everton Camargo nearly doubled his tally in the 76th minute with another set-piece effort from range, but this time the alert keeper was equal to it, punching clear of danger.
Kitchee threw everything forward in search of another equalizer, coming agonizingly close when Walter Junior’s thunderous drive from the edge of the area crashed against the crossbar with seven minutes remaining.
In the dying moments, Leon Jones’ pinpoint cross found Fernando Augusto, who rose highest but could only direct his header straight at the grateful keeper from an acute angle.
Lee Man's resolute defending saw them weather the late storm to book their place in the final, ending Kitchee's hopes of silverware in this competition with a 2:1 victory.