HONG KONG—There were four HKFA Premier League matches played last weekend, with Eastern having the chance to claim the title if they achieved victory over South China on Friday night, Hong Kong Pegasus facing Kitchee on Saturday, Dreams Metro Gallery playing Kwoon Chung Southern on Sunday, and Yuen Long also playing on Sunday in their tie with Glory Sky Wong Tai Sin.
In Friday’s (Apr 22) first game of the weekend at Tseung Kwan Sports Ground, Eastern claimed this year’s Premier League title by beating South China 2-1. Eastern opened the scoring in the 26th minute after South China failed to clear a corner kick and, after Roberto Affonso crossed, Giovane Da Silva headed into the net. Eastern doubled its lead in the 44th minute when Giovane Da Silva claimed his brace with a header into the net from Xu Deshuai’s cross.
Although South China reduced the arrears in the 59th minute through a Ryan Griffiths penalty kick, they could not stop Eastern from winning this year’s championship.
In Saturday’s (Apr 23) game, Kitchee took on Hong Kong Pegasus at Mongkok Stadium, and opened the scoring in the 38th minute when Alexander Akande converted Alessandro Leonardo’s pull back, and quickly doubled their lead a minute later when Alessandro Leonardo converted Fernando Pedreira’s cross for a 2-nil half time lead. Hong Kong Pegasus pulled a goal back in the 50th minute when Admir Adrovic scored from the penalty spot after a Kitchee player was deemed to have fouled. Kitchee restored their 2 goal advantage in the 64th minute when Alessandro Leonardo scored his second from Christian Annan’s cross. Although Lo Kong-wai reduced the deficit for Hong Hong Pegasus in the 81st minute, an injury time goal from Kitchee’s Chen Chin-lung restored Kitchee’s 2 goal advantage and a 4-2 victory.
In Sunday’s (Apr 24) first game, Dreams Metro Gallery took on Kwoon Chung Southern at Sham Shui Po Sports Ground. Kwoon Chung Southern opened the scoring in the 57th minute when Jose Diaz headed in Welligson Da Souza’s free kick. However, Dreams Metro Gallery equalised in the 64th minute when Yiu Ho-ming finished after being supplied by Leonidas Soares, and the game ended in a 1-all draw.
In the day’s other game, Yuen Long hosted Glory Sky Wong Tai Sin at Yuen Long Stadium.
Glory Sky Wong Tai Sin opened the scoring in the 8th minute from a Yuto Nakamura penalty kick, but Yuen Long equalised through Aleksandar Randelovic’s 11th minute strike, and then took the lead on the stroke of half time when Chan Cheuk-kwong head in Ip Chung-long’s corner. Second half goals from Stefan Pereira and Yaun Yang sealed a 4-1 Yuen Long victory.
In the first division, Shatin were 2-1 victors over Easyknit Property, Yau Tsim Mong drew 2-all with Tai Chung, and Sun Hei won 7-1 against Double Flower.
Tai Po lead the table with 56 points from 23 matches, with HKFC second with 50 points from the same games, and Sun Hei third with 49 points from 23 games. Tai Po play HKFC to try to claim the championship next week.
In the second division, Eastern District were 4-1 victors over Kwong Wah, Tung Sing were 2-nil winners against Sai Kung, Kwok Keung won 2-1 against Kowloon City, Sparta Rotterdam Mutual were 3-nil victors over Happy Valley, Tsuen Wan drew 1-all with Tuen Mun FC, and Sham Shui Po were 1-nil winners against Tuen Mun.
Eastern District lead the division with 46 points from 20 matches, with Tung Sing second on 45 points from the same games, and Sparta Rotterdam Mutual third with 41 points from the same matches, with the top two likely to hold the promotion places with only 2 games remaining.
In the third division St Josephs were 3-nil victors over KCC, HKFYG drew 1-all with Telecom, Hoi King won 6-nil against Ornament, KCDRSC were 4-nil winners against Fukien, Central & Western were 4-nil victors over New Fair Kui Tan, Islands were 3-1 winners against GFC Friends, Wing Go Fu Moon won 4-2 against King Mountain, and Rex Global North District drew with Sun International.
Central & Western lead the table with 74 points from 27 matches, with Hoi King second with 69 points from 26 games, the only outstanding item being the championship between the 2.
Yau Yee League
In the first division Baker Tilly Spartans were 4-1 victors over KCC Dragons, Albion were 6-1 winners against HKU70s’, The Store House Squadron won 2-1 against HKDC Mobsters, Wanderers were 3-nil victors over GAS, and Colts were 5-2 winners against Swiss XI.
GAS won the division with 50 points from 20 games, with Wanderers second with 47 points, and Albion third on 44.
In the second division, Azzurri won 1-nil against KCC Knights, Antonhill were 2-nil victors over Colloids FC, GGFC were 5-1 winners against IES, The Store House Hearts drew nil-all with WYFC06, and Boca Seniors were 5-nil victors over University.
French Kiss were champions with 49 points from 20 matches, with KCC Knights second with 43 points.
In the third division, HOB were 4-1 victors over Grasshoppers, Dynamo were 2-1 winners over White Youth, CSOB won 6-nil against Green Cypress FC, HKUSA were 6-nil victors over Yan Po, ANP were 3-2 winners against HKSS, and Goal Visio won 5-2 against CAPS.
ANP are champion of the division with 54 points, with Dynamo second with 49 points.
In the fourth division, Rising Sun were 2-nil victors over WYFC84, Maccabi HK were 5-2 winners against Darts, Power 22 won 1-nil against Outward Bound, Skyline were 3-1victors over Hung Art, Standard Chartered won 2-nil against Scorpions, and Friends of Barclays 7 were 7-4 victors over Bapcoll.
Maccabi HK are division champions with 61 points, with Friends of Barclays second with 52 points.
Allan Jackson has been involved in soccer for more than 40 years as a player, referee, administrator and freelance writer.
