Emotions were running high as Rangers started their season off with a temperamental 1-1 draw at home to Pegasus.
Both sides went into this game looking for a win with Rangers starting the season fresh with Spanish Kitchee loanees Fernando Recio and Jorge Tarres, while as Pegasus were handing a debut to another Spaniard striker, Salvo Chamorro. In fact, the former Barcelona B player had a couple of golden chances to grab a goal in his first game, ith the first being a well worked play from a defensive clearance up to Chamorro who rose to cushion the ball back to Dhiego Martins. The Brazilian then delivered an inch perfect through ball right into the feet of the Spaniard striker who attempted to outplay the Rangers goalkeeper but was denied by the bravery of Yu Ming Chiu.
The second chance of Chamorro’s rather disappointing debut was when he found himself with a volley just five yards out but emphatically blazed it over the bar with a poorly struck finish.
Nevertheless, Pegasus looked destined to score throughout the first 10 minutes of the second half with countless crosses being whipped across the face of goal, with more opportunities being missed by Annan and Pak Lun Fong but failed to make use of the great service from the Pegasus’ flanks.
Chamorro once again looked to have had the perfect chance to start and make his name in Asian football when a beautifully played ball over the top was disappointingly met by a poor volley shot which was once again easily saved by Chiu.
However, Rangers thought they had broken the deadlock in the 67th minute when a Cheuk Fung Chow free kick found the head of Jordi Tarres whose header caused a scrappy goal mouth scrabble goal which was evidentially disallowed for offside, causing uproar from the host’s dug out.
The game was not only entertaining on the pitch but off it too, with several calls throughout the game infuriating both sides, but Rangers were lucky not to have someone dismissed from the sideline when a throw-in decision caused hysteria from the Rangers’ dugout with coaches surrounding the 4th official.
Still, Rangers finally did manage to take a 1-0 lead in the 79th minute when Wong Tsz Ho fell over and got the ball trapped in-between his legs on the outside of the box. He managed to flick the ball towards Tse Long Hin who then placed it past Kiko Naumovski and into the back of the net.
But Pegasus were quick to spoil the celebrations of the home side when Lee Ka Ho’s whipped cross found the inside of substitute Joao Emir’s boot, from which the ball was smashed into the goal to pull the teams back to level pegging.
Chamorro once again disappointed in front of the goal when Wong Chun Ho Wong played a beautiful ball through to the Spaniard who then missed a perfect opportunity from 6 yards.
The game ended 1-1 with both teams disappointed, sharing one point each and looking to speak to referee Ho Wai Sing.
