The 14th week of the Hong Kong Premier League had some crucial moments for this year’s championship, both for the top and the bottom of the league. While Kitchee’s game against Biu Chun Rangers was rescheduled, offside.HK covered the remaining games, including Yuen Long vs Wong Tai Sin, Eastern vs Sun Pegasus and YFCMD vs South China. By Tobias Zuser and Jeff Hardbattle.
Yuen Long keeps relegation threat at bay
Yuen Long 1:1 Wong Tai Sin
Last Saturday, I-Sky Yuen Long was taking on Wong Tai Sin in their home stadium in Hong Kong’s Western New Territories, drawing a crowd of 800 supporters. In fact, there was quite a bit at stake for both teams, which are currently ranked as 7th (Yuen Long) and 8th (WTS) of the Premier League, separated by a small margin of only 4 points. With that in mind, the players on each side started very carefully into the game, with a small advantage for the hosts. Just a few minutes into the game, Yuen Long’s De Souza had his first big chance, but his header missed the goal by a few inches. Wong Tai Sin, on the other hand, struggled to keep the ball in their rows and mainly waited for occasional counter-attack opportunities. However, that changed with the beginning of the second half, when Wong Tai Sin controlled the game more and more. A few minutes after Su Yang suffered an injury and was taken from the pitch straight to the ambulance, Wong Tai Sin’s Li Jian (65’) scored the lead for the guests. But Yuen Long realized the seriousness of this situation and reacted quickly. In the 70’ minute, Yuan Yang, one of the most popular players among the Yuen Long fans, received a wonderful cross and hammered the equalizer into the back of the net. The final score remained 1:1 – and so things at the bottom of the league remained unchanged. With 4 points apart, Yuen Long has some space to breath, but Wong Tai Sin also has two more games in hand. (Tobias Zuser)
YFCMD hold out for win against South China
YFCMD 1:0 South China
YFCMD got over their loss to Yuen Long last week in emphatic style, as they overcame South China in a closely fought 1:0 win. Kenji Fukuda scored the only goal of the match in the 39th minute, when Jose Maria Diaz rose to meet Leung Kwun Chung’s free kick, flicking the ball on to the back post to allow the lurking Japanese striker to notch his 6th goal in the Premier League. Both sides continued to have chances, with both Malisic for South China and Fukuda for YFCMD rattling the goalposts in the first half. The Caroliners pressed for an equaliser after the break, but found goalkeeper Chiu Yu Ming in excellent form, making a string of fine saves from close range efforts from Jose Dos Santos and Chan Siu Ki. The visitors were unable to make a breakthrough, and the result leaves their title hopes hanging by a thread. YFCMD remain in 5th place, but remain in contention for a top 4 finish. (Jeff Hardbattle)
Eastern loses important points in title race
Eastern SC 3:3 Sun Pegasus FC
Considered to be the highlight of this Premier League round, this game between Eastern (2nd) and Sun Pegasus (3rd) certainly fulfilled any expectations. Only 3 minutes into the game, Bosnian striker Admir Rascic created a perfect start for the guests. And it was not soon after that Petrisor Voinea added to this early euphoria by scoring his third goal in his first Hong Kong Premier League campaign. It was now 2:0 for Sun Pegasus and Eastern had to react if they wanted to keep their ambitions for the championship alive. In the 35th minute Miroslav Saric brought Eastern back into the game and the around 980 supporters in the Tseung Kwan O Ground got back their hope. However, the next setback came when player Jaimes McKee put a strong header behind Eastern goalkeeper Yapp Hung Fai, again increasing the lead of Sun Pegasus by two goals (By the way, we hope to see more of McKee’s striker skills in the upcoming games of the national team!). That might be the end for many of the teams in the Premier League, but Eastern knew how to fight back. Da Silva reduced the lead of Pegasus to 2:3 with the help of a penalty in the 81st minute. Now everything seemed to be possible again and indeed, Rascic made it happen again when his cross somehow found its way into the goal of Jerrad Tyson. The 3:3 tie was certainly a fair result of this exciting Sunday game – and keeps the championship as open as before. (Tobias Zuser)
The 4th game between Biu Chun Rangers and Kitchee SC was rescheduled to 29 March 2015 at Kowloon Bay Park. Kick Off is at 3 pm.
Hong Kong Premier League – Week 14 Facts:
Average Attendance: 952
Top Scorer: Miroslav Saric (Eastern SC, 2 goals)
Most bookings: YFCMD vs South China (3 yellow, 1 red), Eastern vs Sun Pegasus (4 yellow)
No game: Wofoo Tai Po
Photo source: HKFA
