In a thrilling night of HKPL U22 League FA Cup action at Kowloon Bay Park on Wednesday (14th May ), Kitchee won Eastern by 3:1, booking their spots in the prestigious cup final.
In a thrilling night of HKPL U22 League FA Cup action at Kowloon Bay Park on Wednesday (14th May ), Kitchee won Eastern by 3:1, booking their spots in the prestigious cup final.
The first semi-final saw an enthralling encounter between Kitchee and Eastern. The match burst into life early as Eastern's LEE Chun Ting threatened with a piercing effort from an acute angle, forcing a crucial save from the Kitchee goalkeeper. The momentum shifted as Kitchee's SLATTERY Matthew Luke found himself clean through on goal, only to be denied by Eastern's alert goalkeeper CHUNG Hoi Man. The deadlock was finally broken on the stroke of half-time when CHEN Ngo Hin displayed clinical finishing, slotting home from a tight angle after a defense-splitting pass from CHAN Shing Chun.
The second period exploded into action as Eastern's MA Hei Wai struck a sublime equalizer in the 53rd minute, finding the bottom corner with precision. Kitchee's response was swift and spectacular, as young sensation YEUNG Cheuk Kwan produced a moment of individual brilliance, weaving past three defenders before firing home. The result was sealed in the 71st minute when SOARES BELITARDO JUNIOR Walter unleashed an unstoppable drive into the net, cementing Kitchee's place in the final with a commanding 3:1 victory.
In a post-match interview, Kitchee's YEUNG Cheuk Kwan, recently returned from injury, expressed his delight: "Finding the net today has given me tremendous confidence as I continue my comeback. I'm feeling fully fit now and rediscovering my rhythm." Looking ahead to the final, he added with determination: "We respect KC Southern's quality, but with our blend of experienced first-team players and fearless U18 talents, we're targeting nothing less than the trophy."