AFC Cup 2014 Round of 16 - Kitchee 2:0 Arema Indonesia (IDN)

Kitchee (HKG) and Arema Indonesia (IDN) clashed heads on Wednesday evening in Mongkok Stadium for a battle in the AFC Cup 2014 Round of 16. Kitchee capitalized on a quick-start and never looked back in the game, coming out on top in a 2:0 victory over Arema Indonesia and advancing to the next round of the tournament.

The newly-crowned Hong Kong league champion got off to a dream start on the 5^th minute when centre-back Jang Kyungjin powered home a header from a Lam Ka-wai corner-kick. Kitchee was now leading 1:0 and the home crowd was going boisterous by the minute.

Lam Ka-wai went from provider to finisher on the 9^th minute when the talented local midfielder danced past several Arema Indonesia players before motoring into the box and smashing a shot that went into the top-corner of the visitors’ goal. It was a majestic effort by the Kitchee player and the score was now 2:0.

Arema Indonesia had a rare chance on the 25^th minute when Alberto Goncalves received the ball inside the Kitchee box and fired away, only to be denied by a sprawling save from Kitchee keeper Wang Zhenpeng.

Kitchee had a great chance to add to the score on the 32^nd minute when Jorge Tarres picked out Juan Belencoso inside the Arema Indonesia heart. The Kitchee target-man took aim and let go a shot but sadly missed hitting the target.

The home side had another great chance on the 44^th minute when Chan Man-fai unleashed a long-range missile that forced out a superb save by Arema Indonesia keeper Kurnia Hermansyah.

Kitchee had an immediate chance in the second-half as Jorge Tarres found himself behind the Arema Indonesia defense and picked up the ball on the 48^th minute. The Spanish striker blasted a tight-angle shot but saw his effort charged out by Arema Indonesia keeper Kurnia Hermansyah.

Arema Indonesia tried to get closer on the scoreboard and nearly did so on the 52^nd minute when Ahmad Bustomi whipped in a corner-kick that was headed just wide by Samsul Munip.

The home side came so close to adding another goal on the 58^th minute when Chan Man-fai spotted Jorge Tarres open in a Kitchee counter-attack. The Spanish striker moved into the Arema Indonesia box but could not direct his shot on target. It was a great chance missed by Kitchee.

Kitchee kept knocking on the Arema Indonesia door as Chan Man-fai almost got himself on the scoresheet on the 67^th minute, when the local youngster broke behind the visitors’ defense before firing a tame shot that was easily handled by Areman Indonesia keeper Kurnia Hermansyah.

The home side had one more chance to add to the score-line as Jorge Tarres led another Kitchee counter-attack but chose to fire himself. Unfortunately, the shot from the Kitchee talisman just missed hitting the Arema Indonesia goal.

Both sides failed to add to the score as Kitchee managed to come out on top in a spirited 2:0 home victory over Arema Indonesia, advancing to the final 8 of the AFC Cup 2014.