HONG KONG—Two league cup semi-finals, and one BOCG Life Premier League game were played in the HKFA Premier League over the weekend.
Saturday (March 21) saw the League Cup semi-final game between South China and Sun Pegasus played at Mongkok Stadium. Sun Pegasus took the lead in the first half through a goal from Jaimes Mckee, but South China equalised through Chan Siu-ki in the 70th minute, before grabbing a late winner from Yuto Nakamura to seal their place in the final.
Sunday’s (March 22) other semi-final featured Kitchee taking on Wong Tai Sin, also at Mongkok Stadium, with the game being settled in the 37th minute when Li Kwan-yee was fed by Lam Ka-wai before firing past goalkeeper Tsang Man-fai. Wong Tai Sin’s task was made difficult after Wong King-wa was sent off in the 24th minute for a foul on Paulo Carreira.
In Sunday’s league game at Sham Shui Po Sports Ground, YFCMD took on BC Rangers at Sham Shui Po Sports Ground. YFCMD won the game 2-1 with goals from Kenji Fukuda in the 30th minute, and Tan Chun Lok in the 62nd minute, sandwiched by an equaliser from Roberto Fronza for BC Rangers in the 55th minute.
Kitchee now lead the table with 26 points from 11 games, and a superior goal difference, with Eastern second in the standings on 26 points from 12 matches, Sun Pegasus third with 23 points from 13 matches, and South China fourth with 23 points from 13 matches.
Saturday saw the top of the table first division clash between HKFC and Metro Gallery Sun Source at Sports Road. HKFC took the lead in the 5th minute through a finish from Robbie Bacon. However Metro Gallery Sun Source equalised in the 25th minute when a through ball down the right hand side saw the centre forward outpace the defence and strike past goalkeeper Rudolf Hollaender. HKFC again took the lead in the 41st minute when John Ramage headed into the top left-hand corner of the net for a 2-1 half-time lead.
Metro Gallery Sun Source equalised again in the 75th minute when a poor punched clearance, possibly due to an infringement, saw the ball fired in, and then Metro Gallery Sun Source scored the winner in the 87th minute.
In the weekend’s other games, Citizen won 2-1 against Kwun Tong, Shatin drew 1-all with Double Flower, Southern won 3-2 against Sun Hei, Happy Valley won 5-1 against Tai Chung, Kwai Tsing drew nil-all with Lucky Mile, and Wanchai won 1-nil against Tuen Mun.
Metro Gallery Sun Source now lead the first division table with 54 points, with HKFC second with 50 points, Yau Tsim Mong third on 42 points, and Southern fourth on 41 points—the 2 leaders having played 20 games, and the others one less.
Second division matches saw Eastern District 8-1 victors over New Fair Kui Tan, Sham Shui Po beaten 2-1 by Sai Kung, Mutual draw 1-all with Kwong Wah, Tuen Mun FC draw 3-all against Kwok Keung, and Wing Yee win 3-1 against Tsuen Wan.
Wing Yee now head the second division after 18 matches with 47 points, Mutual are second with 38 points, and Kowloon City are third with 35 points having played one game less.
In the third division, Central & Western drew nil-all with Fukien, Ornament won 3-2 against King Mountain, Fu Moon were beaten 3-nil by Rainbow Legend North District, St Joseph’s were beaten 2-1 by Tung Sing, Islands were beaten 3-nil by GFC Friends, and KCDRSC won 2-nil against KCC.
Tung Sing now lead the division with 53 points from 20 matches, with Central & Western district second with 48 points from the same number of matches.
Yau Yee League
Sunday saw the first division derby clash between club rivals Albion, the current joint leaders, and fourth placed Wanderers at Sports Road. In a close first half, neither side troubled the opposition goalkeeper, and the only strike came from Albion’s Jan Souleyman, where he hit the upright in the 11th minute. Albion started to increase the pressure in the second half, and Wanderers goalkeeper James Seddon was force to make some good saves to keep the scores equal. However, Albion broke the deadlock in the 60th minute, when a ball into the box saw Seun Tunde Olokigbe head the ball down before Fouad Ben Allal struck the ball past James Seddon from the edge of the box into the net. Albion sealed the game in the 77th minute when Edouard Caumon chipped into the Wanderers net from 10 yards after a dribble from Jan Souleyman, and a final 2-nil win for Albion.
In other first division matches, results fell in Albion’s favour, with Boca Seniors beating prior joint leaders KCC Dragons 1-nil, USRC drawing 2-all with The Store House Squadron, Colts winning 1-nil against Baker Tilly Spartans, GAS winning 4-2 against French Kiss, and Swiss XI winning 6-2 against Corinthians.
Albion now lead the first division table with 42 points from 19 matches, with KCC Dragons second on 39 points, USRC third on 38 points, and Wanderers fourth on 36 points. With 3 rounds remaining, Albion are current favourites for the title.
In second division games HKDC Mobsters were 2-1 victors over SFALO Oxford, Interglobal Colloids won 5-1 against GGFC, Antonhill won 4-1 against CSOB, HKU70’s won 2-1 against KCC Knights, ANP drew 1-all with Azzurri, and The Store House Hearts were 1-nil victors over WYFC06.
HKDC Mobsters lead the second division with 44 points from 19 games, with HKU70’s second with 42 points.
In the third division, HKUSA won 1-nil against HOB, Darts won 3-2 against Yan Po, CAPS drew 3-all with White Youth, IES won 7-nil against University, Dynamo won 5-nil against Green Cypress FC, and Goal Visio won 5-2 against Scorpions.
IES now lead the third division with 48 points from 19 games, with University second with 47 points from the same number of games.
In the fourth division, Power 22 won 5-2 against Skyline, Hung Art won 1-nil against Rising Sun, Grasshoppers were 6-1 victors over Bapcoll, Youth Coaches were 5-2 winners against WYFC84, and HKSS won 3-nil against Friends of Barclays.
HKSS and Power 22 lead the fourth division with 46 points from 19 games, with Grasshoppers third with 41 points from 18 games.
Allan Jackson has been involved in soccer for more than 40 years as a player, referee, administrator and freelance writer.
