HONK KONG—Another round of matches were played in the BOCG Life HKFA Premier League last weekend. On Saturday (Jan 30) Hong Kong Pegasus took on Dreams Metro Gallery at the Hong Kong Stadium and a clash of championship contenders South China and Kitchee was played at Tseung Kwan O Sports Ground. On Sunday (Jan 31) Glory Sky Wong Tai Sin faced Eastern at Hammer Hill Road Sports Ground, and Yuen Long met BC Rangers at Yuen Long Stadium.
In Saturday’s game at Hong Kong Stadium, Hong Kong Pegasus started brightly but had a few chances go begging before Dreams Metro Gallery took the lead in the 45th minute when Kenji Fukuda cut in from the left hand side and fired into the net via the post. Joao Pereira was red carded after 79 minutes, and then Dreams Metro Gallery closed the game out when, after 86 minutes, Wong Tsz-Ho headed in from Lai Lok-yin’s corner and then, in the 90th minute Chung Wai-keung headed in for a 3-nil victory for Dreams Metro Gallery.
In the later game between title challengers South China and Kitchee, Kitchee took the lead in the 18th minute when Rufino Sgovia fired into the net after receiving a pass from Alexander Akande. Subsequently, a number of chances created by South China went beggeing, including a 40th minute penalty kick from Felix Borja which was saved by Wang Zhenpeng. South China defender Bojan Malisic was sent off early in the second half, and Kitchee made them pay. First, in the 66th minute, Christian Annan’s cross to Alexander Akande was fed to Matthew Lam, and when his shot was saved by Christian Mora, Rufino Sgovia was first to react to fire the rebound back into the net. Kitchee sealed the win for a 3-nil victory in the 79th minute when Kim Taemin’s cross was headed into the net by Alexander Akande at the far post. The victory moves Kitchee into joint second place with South China on 18 points, but gives an incentive to Eastern to win one of their games in hand on Sunday to extend their lead at the top of the table to 4 points over their 2 main challengers for the title.
In Sunday’s first game Eastern played Glory Sky Wong Tai Sin and took a 2 goal lead before a late consolation for Glory Sky Wong Tai Sin resulted in a 2-1 victory for Eastern. Eastern took the lead in the 43rd minute when Roberto Affonso headed in Xu Deshuai’s free kick, and doubled their advantage in the 77th minute when Michel Lugo collected Bai He’s free kick before firing home. Glory Sky Wong Tai Sin pulled a goal back in the 89th minute when Yuto Nakamura scored from the penalty spot, but Eastern ran out 2-1 victors to maintain their lead at the top of the Premier League table.
In Sunday’s other game, Yuen Long won 3-1 against BC Rangers. Yuen Long opened the scoring in the 16th minute when Stefan Pereira netted from a cross. BC Rangers equalised in the 48th minute when Tommy Chuck headed in Liu Songwei’s cross. Yuen Long regained the lead in the 59th minute when Stefan Pereira grabbed his second goal of the game, and extended their lead in the 67th minute when Ip Chung-long scored with a long range effort past goalkeeper Sin Leong, for a final score 3-1 victory
Eastern now lead the table with 22 points from 8 games, with Kitchee second with 18 points from 9 games, and South China third on goal difference also with 18 points from 9 games, making Eastern title favourites given their game in hand along with a 4 point lead at the half way stage
In the first division, Citizen drew 1-all with Easyknit Property, Wanchai were 1-nil victors over Kwun Tong, Dreams Metro Gallery Sun Source were 2-nil winners over Lucky Mile, Tai Po won 4-nil against Sun Hei, Kwai Tsing drew 1-all with Sha Tin, and HKFC were 1-nil victors over Double Flower.
Tai Po lead the table with 34 points, HKFC lie second with 30 points, Citizen are third with 28 points, Sun Hei fourth with 26 points, and Yau Tsim Mong fifth with 25 points (the latter two teams have games in hand).
In the second division, Sparta Rotterdam Mutual were beaten 2-1 by Kowloon City, Sai Kung were 2-nil winners against Tsuen Wan, Tung Sing won 4-1 against Kwong Wah, Tuen Mun FC were beaten 2-1 by Kwok Keung, Sham Shui Po were 2-nil victors over Happy Valley, and Eastern District were 9-nil winners against Tuen Mun.
Sham Shui Po lead the table with 29 points from 12 matches, with Eastern District second with 27 points from the same matches, Tung Sing third with 26 points from the same matches, and Sparta Rotterdam are fourth with 24 points from the same matches.
In the third division KCDRSC were 2-1 victors over New Fair Kui Tan, Wing Go Fu Moon drewni-all with Telecom, King Mountain won 3-nil against HKFYG, Hoi king were 3-nil victors over Sun Internationl, Central & Western were 2-nilwinners against KCC, St Joseph’s drew nil-all against Islands, and REX Global North District were 5-nil winners against Ornament.
Hoi King lead the division with 43 points from 16 matches and a better goal difference, with Central & Western second with 43 points from the same number of games.
Yau Yee League
In the first division, GAS won Thursday night’s game against KCC Dragons, Albion were 6-nil victors over HKDC Mobsters, Wanderers were 1-nil winners against The Store House Squadron, Swiss XI were beaten 3-1 by KCC Dragons, Colts drew 1-all with USRC, and HKU70’s drew nil-all with Baker Tilly Spartans
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GAS lead the table with 34 points from 13 games, with Albion second on 31 points from 14 games, Wanderers third on 29 points from 13 games, and KCC Dragons fourth with 26 points from 14 games.
In the second division, Colloids FC were 3-1 victors over GGFC, Antonhill were beaten 2-nil by WYFC06, Azzurri won 6-1 against The Store House Hearts, IES were 3-2 victors over Boca Seniors, and French Kiss won 3-1 against KCC Knights.
French Kiss lead the table with 33 points from 14 games, with KCC Knights second with 29 points from 13.
In the third division, HKUSA were 2-1 victors over CAPS, White Youth drew 2-all with HOB, HKSS were beaten 2-1 by Green Cypress FC, ANP won 4-2 against Grasshoppers, Dynamo were 3-1 winners against Yan Po, and CSOB won 6-2 against Goal Visio
Dynamo lead the table with 34 points from 15 games, with ANP second with 33 points from 15 games, and Yan Po third with 29 points from 15 games.
In the fourth division, Darts won4-2 against Bapcoll, Rising Sun drew nil-all with Outward Bound, Friends of Barclays were 2-1 victors over WYFC84, Scorpions 1-nil winners against Hung Art, Maccabi HK were 4-nil winners against Standard Chartered, and Power 22 won 7-nil against Skyline.
Maccabi HK lead the table with 40 points from 15 games, with Friends of Barclays second with 36 points from the same number of matches.
Allan Jackson has been involved in soccer for more than 40 years as a player, referee, administrator and freelance writer.
