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Thursday, October 08, 2020, 10:22
Eastern reach for treble in rocky HKPL season
By Tobias Zuser
Thursday, October 08, 2020, 10:22 By Tobias Zuser

Eastern could win the treble this Sunday after lifting the Senior Shield trophy last weekend. (PHOTO COURTESY OF HKFA)

Nearly five months later than planned, the 2019/2020 Hong Kong football season is finally coming to an end on Oct 11, with Eastern finding themselves in the pole position to win this year’s championship – just days after securing both the FA Cup and Senior Shield trophies, and therefore even reaching for a possible treble.

However, if Eastern make any mistake that day, the title is still up for grabs, as both Kitchee and R&F are lurking for their chance to snatch away the season’s most important silverware. The Blues are on top of the league with 18 points, followed by Kitchee and R&F on 17, however, due to a better head-to-head record, Kitchee would still stay above their rivals if they would end up on equal points.

All games of the final match day will be played simultaneously at different venues, with five possible scenarios that could see three different champions. As long as Eastern win their game, they will definitely be champions, however, if they draw, they would also rely on Happy Valley to either draw with or beat Kitchee. The latter could become champions as long as they win their game and Eastern tie with or lose to R&F. Eventually, even R&F would have a small chance to claim the title, but only if they beat Eastern while Kitchee are dropping points to Happy Valley.  

The last few days saw several twists in the title race, with Kitchee seemingly on track to finish first, however, in the end they stumbled once again over Southern, whose Japanese defender Kawase Kota equalized for the Aberdeeners in the 84th minute, handing the lead to Kitchee’s arch rivals Eastern. Meanwhile, the Blues thrashed Happy Valley in a 4-0 win with goals by Wong Wai, Lucas Silva and Joao Emir. R&F also kept hold of a lifeline by beating Lee Man 1-0, with 21-year-old Jordan Lam scoring the decisive goal.

Although the current cycle just about to finish, the Hong Kong Football Association plans to start the 2020/21 season as soon as possible, with Oct 24 floating around as possible kick off day. With cases of COVID-19 infections currently stabilizing, a quick resumption may be necessary, as there remains a risk for another pandemic-related break during winter months. However, some clubs may not be fully prepared yet. While Rangers, Pegasus and promoted Resources Capital have vowed to compete in the next season, the fate of Tai Po and Yuen Long is still unknown. Some of the newly signed foreign players have yet to arrive in the city and would also need to undergo the standard 14 days quarantine before being allowed to join team trainings and play competitive matches. Speaking of recent transfers, Happy Valley made some headlines by signing former Manchester United youth talent Charlie Scott. A few years ago, Scott was released by the Premier League giants and talked openly about how this affected his mental wellbeing. The 23-year-old midfielder recently played for Newcastle Town in England’s seventh tier and now aims to restart his professional career with Happy Valley in Hong Kong.

Before fans can see the new signings in action, however, they have yet to witness the exciting final match day of the 2019/20 season, with three possible title winners.

R&F rely on Happy Valley upsetting Kitchee to keep their title hopes alive. (PHOTO COURTESY OF HKFA)

HAPPY VALLEY vs KITCHEE, Premier League, Mong Kok Stadium, Oct 11, 3 pm

There is certainly more at stake for Kitchee than for Happy Valley this day, as the Bluewaves must win to keep their chances alive, while relying on R&F upsetting Eastern in the game played parallel at Hong Kong Stadium. Kitchee may still be without their goalkeeper Wang Zhenpeng, who suffered an injury in the last match against Southern. Just a few moments after Guo Jianqiao was subbed in, the team conceded. For Happy Valley, on the other hand, the game has not much to offer. The Greens are going to finish this season at the bottom of the table, albeit safe from relegation, as four other clubs have withdrawn before the league resumed in September. Nonetheless, Happy Valley could be a bit more motivated than usual, as they could easily turn into the kingmaker or kingslayer on the last match day.

SOUTHERN vs LEE MAN, Premier League, Siu Sai Wan Sports Groun Oct 11, 3 pm

Meanwhile, at Siu Sai Wan Sports Ground, Southern and Lee Man face each other in what could be described as a dead rubber match, deciding which team finishes on fourth or fifth respectively. Given the previous head-to-head record, the Aberdeeners could leapfrog their opponents with a win, while Lee Man would defend their position with either a victory or a draw. It has been a disappointing season for both sides, who appeared in one cup final but failed to clinch any silverware. However, the clubs have also gained some momentum and have become solid mid-table teams that stay far away from relegation danger and are able to cause upsets against the big teams of the league. Lee Man and Southern will certainly look forward to the coming season.

Kitchee's title chances have slimmed after drawing 1-1 with Southern last weekend. (PHOTO COURTESY OF HKFA)

EASTERN vs R&F, Premier League, Hong Kong Stadium, Oct 11, 3 pm

There is no doubt that this match-up is going to be the title decider of this season, as it really only comes down to Eastern’s performance. Coach Lee Chi-kin played it safe last weekend, keeping his centre back Eduardo Praes on the bench, as he was in danger of picking up his fifth yellow card of the season. This means that Eastern have almost the entire squad at their disposal that day. Having won the title with Tai Po in 2019, Lee could celebrate back-to-back championships this year, further solidifying his legacy as one of Hong Kong’s most successful coaches. However, even though Eastern beat R&F in the recent FA Cup final, they must not underestimate the Guangzhou side, who still have some of the best players in the squad, including Brazilian forward Igor Sartori.


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