In this undated photo, Eastern defender Eduardo Praes received the MVP award of the Sapling Cup Final (PHOTO COURTESY OF HKFA)

What started off as a rocky season amidst the on-going pandemic has returned to some long awaited normalcy, when Happy Valley and Eastern faced each other on 7 April for the Sapling Cup final at Mong Kok Stadium. The competition, which requires each team to field at least three U22 players at all times, has become a mainstay in recent years, and has survived as the only cup trophy this season, after both FA Cup and Senior Shield had been cancelled entirely due to a shortened fixtures calendar. 

Despite the youth talent requirement, the two sides could not have lined up more differently. Happy Valley started with four U22 players, with nine more on the bench, while Eastern fulfilled the bare minimum of the quota, still relying on mostly veterans that boosted the average age of the starting line up to around 29 years, about 4.5 years older than their opponents. 

Unsurprisingly, Eastern looked like the dominant side in the first half, with the likes of Fernando, Sandro, and Lucas Silva posing a constant threat. The club was eventually rewarded in the 38th minute, when centre back Eduardo Praes nodded in a header from close range. The Brazilian defender, who could be eligible for a HKSAR passport by the end of next year, delivered a great performance throughout the night and got the deserved MVP title later that night. But if people thought it would be a one-sided affair, they were proven wrong in the second half, as Happy Valley stepped up their game and increased the pressure. The Greens had several great opportunities to equalize, at one time even scoring a goal, which the referee disallowed due to alleged foulplay against goalkeeper Tsang Man-fai, who seemed to lack some confidence that day. 

With an equalizer on the cards, Eastern eventually woke up and in the 81st minute Jared Lum delivered a beautiful long-range shot making it 2-0 and sealing the cup victory for the Blues. Since the establishment of the Sapling Cup in 2015, it was the first time for Eastern to add the trophy to their club records. Although, many Eastern players as well as coach Lee Chi-kin have won the same silverware a few years ago when still donning Tai Po shirts. 

Meanwhile, the Asian Football Confederation has also announced the details for the upcoming AFC Cup round which will be played in Hong Kong, after the local organizers agreed to waive quarantine requirements for the visiting clubs. The six games will be played on three match days in May as so-called double headers, with kick offs at 4 pm and 8 pm at Hong Kong Stadium. The two clubs from Hong Kong, Eastern and Lee Man, will fight with Athletic 220 and Tainan City FC for the group win. It has yet to be confirmed if the games will also be open to public. 

The coming weekend will see again all Hong Kong Premier League clubs in action, and given the most recent results, the championship looks more and more like a two-horse race between Kitchee and Eastern. 

The 0-2 loss to Kitchee last weekend could mean the end to Lee Man's title ambitions (PHOTO COURTESY OF HKFA)

With an equalizer on the cards, Eastern eventually woke up and in the 81st minute Jared Lum delivered a beautiful long-range shot making it 2-0 and sealing the cup victory for the Blues

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SOUTHERN vs HAPPY VALLEY, Premier League, Aberdeen Sports Ground, Sat 10 Apr, 3 pm

Just two weeks after their previous league encounter, which ended in a 1-1 draw, Southern and Happy Valley will lock horns once again. There is still a lot at stake for both teams, especially though for the Aberdeeners, who have only won a single match this season and are currently at the bottom of the league with just five points. Happy Valley, on the other hand, bagged an important win last weekend, with Brazilian midfielder Mikael turning around the game singlehandedly against Rangers in the last minutes, with the decisive 2-1 penalty coming in the 91st minute. A win for Southern would nonetheless allow them to pass on the red lantern to either Resources Capital or Rangers, who are just a few points above them. 

KITCHEE vs RESOURCES CAPITAL, Premier League, Mong Kok Stadium, Sun 11 Apr, 3 pm

There should not be too many surprises this afternoon at Mong Kok Stadium, with Kitchee expected to beat newcomers Resources Capital. The Bluewaves celebrated a very important 2-0 win over Lee Man last weekend that firmly cemented their title ambitions, while supposedly kicking the Bees out of the title race. Kitchee are still in pole position for the 2020/21 season, four points ahead runners up Eastern, who still have a game in hand. 

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LEE MAN vs PEGASUS, Premier League, Tseung Kwan O Sports Ground, Sun 11 Apr, 5:30 pm

The loss to Kitchee was undoubtedly a huge disappointment to Lee Man, who are now facing an uphill battle to catch up with Eastern and Kitchee in the coming rounds, trailing the latter by already ten points. With Pegasus, the Bees also find themselves in a direct fight over third place in the table. The Flying Horsemen have had a decent run of late, most recently beating Southern 3-2, courtesy of goals by Sun Ming Him, Junior Goiano, and Nilson, with the latter’s decisive match winner coming in the 87th minute of the game. Meanwhile, Lee Man will count on Spaniard Manuel Bleda to cause some danger up front. 

EASTERN vs RANGERS, Premier League, Mong Kok Stadium, Mon 12 Apr, 8 pm

Last but not least, Eastern will take on Rangers on Monday evening at Mong Kok Stadium. The Sapling Cup win for the Blues should give them some additional boost in confidence, but the team is also under pressure for every single game now, as any points dropped would increase Kitchee’s advantage in the title race. Altogether there are only eight games left until the end of the season, including the championship and relegation playoffs. Meanwhile, Rangers seem to have found a comfortable place this season, with relegation not being a realistic threat due to the pandemic. Instead, the club remains a constant threat and even Eastern should not completely underestimate them, despite their latest 1-2 loss to Happy Valley.