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Thursday, November 29, 2018, 17:59
Kitchee, Tai Po face tough AFC opponents
By Tobias Zuser
Thursday, November 29, 2018, 17:59 By Tobias Zuser

Kitchee still struggle to find their form as championship contenders. (PHOTO COURTESY OF HKFA)

Following a weekend of Sapling Cup group stage fixtures, the Hong Kong Premier League returns with a set of crucial games. 

After Kitchee had suffered the first league defeat in 31 games against R&F, the reigning champions also were not able to make amends in the cup, where they had to share points with Southern in a 1-1 draw. This result will put further pressure on Kitchee, as they struggle to find back to their dominating form of last season. 

However, the clock is ticking, as they will soon have to prove themselves on the intercontinental stage as well. 

On Nov 22, the Asian Football Confederation conducted the draw for its two major club competitions: the AFC Champions League and the second-tier AFC Cup. 

As Malaysia has leapfrogged the Hong Kong FA in the latest ranking, the domestic league has also lost its spot in the ACL groups stages. This means that Kitchee, as Premier League champions, enter the tournament in the preliminary round. 

On Feb 12, they have to take on Malaysian side Perak. If victorious, Kitchee would then have to travel to South Korea to lock horns with a K-League side on Feb 19 in a decisive play-off. 

Both matches will be one-legged away affairs. 

Although the odds certainly do not favor Kitchee, they may still remember the close fight against Ulsan Hyundai in 2017, when they only lost in a penalty shoot-out. In the case of a successful ACL qualification, Kitchee would find themselves in the challenging group H, together with CSL champions Shanghai SIPG, Kawasaki Frontale, and Sydney FC. 

If they fail to qualify, the Bluewaves will compete in the AFC Cup instead. The latter was absent from the Hong Kong SAR over the last two seasons, as the previously fixed ACL group stage spot excluded clubs from participating in the AFC Cup at the same time. 

This year Kitchee would enter the East Asian group of the AFC Cup with opponents from the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), Chinese Taipei, and possibly even a second contestant from Hong Kong. 

Last year’s runners up Tai Po will compete in the AFC Cup qualifiers and play a two-legged play-off against either a Mongolian or DPRK team on March 6 and 13 respectively. Pegasus is used as a stand-by team, if Kitchee would eventually advance to the ACL and free up their AFC Cup slot. 

As the stakes slowly get higher in Asia, the domestic clubs still have to play two more rounds of Premier League this year. 

Pegasus will try to challenge Kitchee on Friday night at Mong Kok Stadium. (PHOTO COURTESY OF HKFA)

KITCHEE v PEGASUS, Premier League, Mong Kok Stadium, Nov 30, 8 pm

In what is probably the match of the weekend, Kitchee take on Pegasus on Friday night at Mong Kok Stadium. The Bluewaves are struggling so far to catch up with the top of the table and are already four points behind arch-rivals Eastern, who still have a game in hand against Hoi King. 

The reigning champions have already dropped nine points thus far this season, and given the relatively short league of just 18 rounds, any additional point dropped may be fatal in the weeks to come, as the maximum points dropped of any past Premier League champions were just twelve. 

Pegasus on the other hand have gained again some momentum and appear to play relatively liberated from pressure. Currently fourth in the table, they need to get at least one point from Kitchee to keep the champions behind them. 

R&F v YUEN LONG, Premier League, Yanzigang Stadium, Dec 1, 2:30 pm

Some critics have already given up on R&F after their clear-cut 1-3 defeat to Tai Po in the league, but the Guangzhou side has seen an impressive comeback since then. Their win over Kitchee put a painful end to the 31-match winning streak of the reigning champions, and simultaneously put R&F back into the title race. 

Coach Yeung Ching-kwong just found the right tactic against Kitchee, and also led his team to a competitive 1-1 draw with Eastern, who are arguably Hong Kong’s best club at the moment. 

However, R&F should not underestimate Yuen Long, who are once again the dark horses of the league this year. 

R&F held Eastern to a 1-1 draw in the Sapling Cup. (PHOTO COURTESY OF HKFA)

LEE MAN v SOUTHERN, Premier League, Tseung Kwan O Sports Ground, Dec 1, 2:30 pm

Lee Man have been suffering from a very disappointing season and striker Alexandre Talento has already left the club, as the Bees mainly rely on Macau player Leong Ka-hang for goals at the moment. 

Currently only third from bottom, Lee Man will have a difficult task on hand when facing second-placed Southern. 

Meanwhile, coach Ricky Cheng has turned his team into a winning side, although the Aberdeeners are still waiting for the return of Nikola Komazec, who recently travelled to Serbia for further rehabilitation after his foot injury.

DREAMS v HOI KING, Premier League, Tsing Yi Sports Ground, Dec 2, 2:30 pm

On Sunday afternoon Dreams will take on Hoi King at Tsing Yi Sports Ground, for what is probably an early decider in the relegation battle. While the Kingsmen have yet to gain their first point of the season, the Dreamers have also only just accumulated two draws and are far from being safe. 

However, the latter will still be favorites, particularly after their 2-1 Sapling Cup win over Tai Po that proved the team is actually not lacking in talent and determination. 

EASTERN v TAI PO, Premier League, Hong Kong Stadium, Dec 2, 5:30 pm

The last match of the round sees league-leaders Eastern lock horns with AFC Cup contestant Tai Po. The Greens will look for some remedy from their disappointing loss to Dreams in the Sapling Cup, but can also build on their solid league performance thus far. 

It should be an important battle between these two sides: A win for Chan Yuen-ting and her team would keep Eastern firmly on track for the championship. At the same time, with an upset, Tai Po could even catapult themselves back into the mix for the title race.

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