HONG KONG—This was always going to be the week when the top of the standings deadlock between SSSC-A, HKFC-A and Khalsa-A was going to be broken.
It could have been foreseen that the firepower of SSSC would prevail over HKFC-B, but the outcome of the top of the table clash between HKFC-A and Khalsa-A was unknown and bound to be fiercely contested.
Playing first at HKFC the Club B side put up a good performance but in the end the pressure from SSSC top players forced a 6-1 win to take them onto 21 points in the 2016-17 HKFA Premier Division season.
The stands were full and people were waiting at the perimeter of the ground eager to see the top of the table confrontation between HKFC-A and Khalsa-A - both on 18 points prior to the game. A win would keep one of them at the top of the standings with SSSC, draw or loss would drop them back.
The highlight match was hotly contested from the start, fast skillful play by both sides attacking the others’ defences when they were in possession. Flying tackles were common-place throughout the match to snatch the ball from attackers. Skidding dives towards goal were also seen to try to deflect into the net high speed balls driven across goal.
However, the score stayed all square at 0-0 for the first 15 minutes of the match until HKFC players forced their way close to goal and a half chance was pushed into the Khalsa goal by Istiaq Ahmed and this score prevailed into the 2nd half.
