HONG KONG—The BOC Life Premier League weekend opened with the Sports Road clash on Friday (Oct 14) between HKFC and Hong Kong Pegasus, followed by Saturday’s (Oct15) games between Kwoon Chung Southern and Eastern Long Lions at Aberdeen Sports Ground, and the top of the table match between Kitchee and South China at Mongkok Stadium, and on Sunday (Oct 16) games between BG Glory Sky and Lee Man Rangers at Hammer Hill Road Sports Ground, and R&F and KMB Yuen Long at Sui Sai Wan Sports Ground.
In the weekend’s opening game at HKFC’s home ground at Sports Road on Friday, HKFC’s confidence was bolstered by their win last time out, and proceeded to provide resistance to the Hong Kong Pegasus side that had the better of the play and created more chances. However,
HKFC goalkeeper, Issey Maholo, managed to frustrate the visitors, and keep them scoreless until the half time break with a number of saves, and help from his defenders.
The game was settled in the 83rd minute when Travis Major collided with HKFC goalkeeper Maholo, leaving the ball to fall to Joao Emir who managed to steer the ball into the net to snatch a 1-nil victory, and deny HKFC any reward for their hard work.
Saturday’s game at Aberdeen Sports Ground became an incident packed affair when, after Eastern Long Lions took a 13th minute lead when Giovane da Silva hit a long ball forward to Mirosalv Sari, who advanced into the box before scoring, Kwoon Chung Southern’s Diego Garrido and Eastern Long Lions’ Lee Hong-lim were red carded.
Eastern Long Lions equalised in the 50th minute when, after Tsang Chi-man had fouled Wellingsson da Souza, Yapp Hung-fai saved the resultant penalty kick, as well as the rebound from Hui Wang-fung, only to see the ball enter the net via Tsang.
Eastern Long Lions closed the game out with an 82nd minute conversion by Wellingsson da Souza of a Manuel Rodriguez cross, and a 93rd minute finish from Rodriguez.
In Saturday’s later game at Mongkok Stadium, the title contenders Kitchee and South China fought out a one-all draw, South China taking the lead in the 41st minute when Nikola Komazec, fired past goalkeeper Wang Zhenpeng, and Kitchee equalising in the 49th minute when Alessandro Leonardo headed home from Lo Kwan-yee’s cross from the right wing.
In Sunday’s first game, BC Glory Sky and Lee Man Rangers fought out a 2-all draw, with BC Glory Sky taking a 9th minute lead when Everton Camargo shot past goalkeeper Chiu Yu-ming, and then extending the lead in the 46th minute when Vasudeva Nunez headed in a corner. Lee Man Rangers pulled a goal back in the 65th minute when Jorge Tarres headed in Lai Yue-cheng’s cross, and then equalised in the 84th minute when Tarres fired home, despite having Clayton Afonso dismissed in the 74th minute.
In the later game at Siu Sai Wan Sports Ground, R&F took the lead from the penalty spot through Xiang Jiachi after Chan Hing-kwong was penalised for a foul in the 33rd minute, only for KMB Yeun Long to respond with their own penalty kick conversion from Stafan Pereira 3 minutes later. KMB Yuen Long then went on to win 4-1 with additional goals from Yip Tsz-chun in the 57th minute, Diego Higino in the 66 h minute, and substitute Alexander Randelovic in the 69th minute.
Kitchee lead the table with 13 points from 5 matches, with Eastern Long Lions second with 10 points from 4 matches, Hong Kong Pegasus third with 8 points from 5 games, and South China fourth with 8 points from 4 games.
In the round of first division matches Eastern District were 1-nil victors over Wanchai, Shatin were 2-1 winners against Kwai Tsing, Wong Tai Sin won 3-2 against Easyknit Property, Citizen were 4-1 winners against Double Flower, Kwun Tong drew 2-all against Yau Tsim Mong, Sun Hei were 3-nil victors over Metro Gallery, and Resource Capital FC were 4-2 winners against Tung Sing.
Sun Hei lead the table with 16 points from 6 matches, with Wong Tai Sin second on 15 points from the same games, and Easyknit Property and Citizen third on 13 points from the same games.
In the second division, Central & Western were 2-1 victors over Sham Shui Po, Kowloon City drew nil-all with Sparta Rotterdam Mutual, Tuen Mun were 5-2 winners against Kwok Keung Linkers ONC, Hoi King won 4-1 against Kwong Wah, Tuen Mun FC drew nil-all against HKU CXSC Sun Source, and Sai Kung were 1-nil victors over Lucky Mile.
Hoi King lead the table with 16 points from their 6 games, with Kowloon City second with 14 points, and Central & Western and Tuen Mun third with 13 points all from the same games.
Yau Yee League
In the 5th round of first division matches, Albion drew nil-all with KCC Dragons, Wanderers were 3-1 winners against champions and fellow title contenders GAS, Adam Riley and Sebastian Beer scoring decisive goals, Baker Tilly Spartans were 3-1 victors over French Kiss, Colts won 5-nil against KCC Knights, and Swiss XI were 4-nil winners against Colloids FC.
Colts and Wanderers lead the table with 13 points from 5 matches, Colts with a superior goal difference, with KCC Dragons third with 10 points, and GAS and Baker Tilly Spartans fourth with 9 points, all from the same games.
In the second division, Dynamo were 4-2 victors over CSOB, HKU70’s were 2-1 winners against GGFC, Hearts FC won 3-nil against WYFC06, Grasshoppers were 2-1 victors over IES, White Youth FC were 2-1 victors against ANP, and Azzurri were 4-nil winners against Carnegies Boca Seniors
Azzurri are league leaders with 13 points from 5 matches, with HKU70’s second with 12 points, and Dynamo third with 10 points, all from the same games.
Allan Jackson has been involved in soccer for more than 40 years as a player, referee, administrator and freelance writer.
