On Sunday (January 11th), Kitchee clinched a vital 3:2 victory over HKFC in the Jockey Club Women's Youth Football League (U15) at the Jockey Club HKFA Football Training Centre Pitch 4, claiming all three points to climb to fourth in the standings.
HKFC threatened early, testing Kitchee's backline in the 7th minute when NGUYEN SUMMER THAO unleashed a right-footed effort from distance that was comfortably gathered by Kitchee goalkeeper CHEUNG WING NAM. After settling into their rhythm, Kitchee seized control of possession and broke the deadlock in the 26th minute. LUONG HEI MAN latched onto a perfectly weighted through ball, keeping her composure to slot past the keeper with her right boot, putting her side 1:0 ahead. HKFC rallied in the 35th minute with a flurry of attacks. NGUYEN SUMMER THAO forced a fine save from the keeper with a tight-angle strike, before VETTORETTI ASIA won possession and surged forward, only to see her attempt from the edge of the area denied by another smart stop. Kitchee weathered the storm and doubled their advantage in the 37th minute. LUONG HEI MAN ghosted in unmarked to meet a dangerous cross from the right, thundering home with her left foot to give Kitchee a commanding 2:0 cushion at the break.
Trailing by two at the restart, HKFC came out firing in the second half. Their persistence paid off in the 43rd minute when NGUYEN SUMMER THAO showed great composure to finish a one-on-one chance, pulling one back to make it 1:2. Two minutes later, Kitchee nearly restored their two-goal buffer. LUONG HEI MAN embarked on a mazy dribble, gliding past two defenders before driving into the box, but her strike was thwarted by a brave save from the HKFC shot-stopper. HKFC drew level in the 45th minute when VETTORETTI ASIA pounced on a defensive lapse to tap home from close range, leveling the scores at 2:2.
Kitchee's response was immediate and decisive. Just three minutes later, LUONG HEI MAN collected a throw-in on the right flank, spun away from her marker, and rifled a left-footed strike into the net to complete her hat-trick and restore Kitchee's lead at 3:2. HKFC continued to press for an equalizer. HEARAUDE APOLLINE ROSE MARIE saw her narrow-angle effort kept out by the keeper, while HIRAE HANNA couldn't direct VETTORETTI ASIA's inviting cross on target, her close-range effort sailing wide of the post. Kitchee nearly put the match to bed in the 70th minute when MA CHI YAU controlled a long ball over the top and beat her marker before pulling the trigger, only to be denied by the advancing keeper who rushed off her line to make a crucial block.
When the final whistle blew, Kitchee held on for a hard-fought 3:2 triumph over HKFC, securing all three points to move up to fourth place in the league table.



