AFC Cup 2014:Kitchee SC secured a spot in last four!

Kitchee (HKG) took on Vissai NB (VIE) in Mongkok Stadium on Tuesday evening for the 2^nd leg of the 2014 AFC Cup Quarter-final. Kitchee withstood Vissai NB’s non-stop pressure on the evening but fell short in a 0:1 defeat. However, the reigning Hong Kong league champion still manage to advance to the 2014 AFC Cup Semi-final thanks to an aggregate score of 4:3.

Vissai NB generated the first chance of the game on the 8^th minute when Nguyen Duc Linh fired from a tight-angle inside the Kitchee box, forcing out a tidy save from Kitchee keeper Wang Zhenpeng.

Kitchee had its own chance on the 13^th minute when Jorge Tarres’ curling free-kick sailed just high above the Vissai NB crossbar. The game was still goalless at this stage.

The Vietnamese side had two successive chances around the 22^nd minute mark. Pham Van Quy first saw his tame header easily handled by Kitchee keeper Wang Zhenpeng. Shortly afterwards, Abdullahi Suleiman’s found himself behind the Kitchee defense with only the keeper to beat. Unfortunately for the Suleiman, Kitchee keeper Wang Zhenpeng proved his own worth and smartly handled the shot from the Vissai NB striker.

Vissai NB got on the scoreboard on the 28^th minute when Nguyen Duc Linh’s low-shot was rejected by the Kitchee goal-post. Abdullahi Suleiman pounced on the loose ball and coolly directed it into the Kitchee goal. The visitors now enjoyed a 0:1 lead.

The visitors continued to lay pressure towards Kitchee and were almost rewarded on the 44^th minute when the dangerous Abdullahi Suleiman was once again sprung loose behind the Kitchee defenders. The imposing Vissai NB striker unleashed a fantastic shot that was blocked by Kitchee keeper Wang Zhenpeng. The ball continued to head towards the Kitchee goal, only to hit the crossbar and stayed out from the Kitchee net.

Kitchee came close on the 49^th minute when Gao Wen’s free-kick found Juan Belencoso inside the Vissai NB box. The Spanish striker timed his jump perfectly but could not direct his header on target.

Gao Wen had a decent chance to put Kitchee back on level terms on the 62^nd minute but saw his free-kick blast ricocheted off a Vissai NB player and went out of play.

Kitchee almost tied the game on the 67^th minute when Lam Ka-wai’s tricky curling shot was tipped over the crossbar by Vissai NB keeper Tran Buu Ngoc. It was a wonderful strike by the Kitchee playmaker and an equally brilliant save by the Vietnamese keeper.

Vissai NB desperately tried to seek the next goal and nearly did so on the 80^th minute when Pham Van Quyen’s fired a curling free-kick towards the Kitchee goal, only to see keeper Wang Zhenpng smothered the shot. Kitchee was still trailing 0:1 at this stage.

Kitchee came close to tie the game on the 84^th minute when Tsang Kam-to picked out Jorge Tarres at the back-post of the Vissai NB goal. The Spanish striker pulled the trigger but saw his shot rejected by the Vissai NB crossbar.

Both sides failed to add to the score as Kitchee suffered a 0:1 defeat at home against Vissai NB in the 2^nd leg of the 2014 AFC Cup. However, the reigning Hong Kong league champion still manage to advance to the Semi-final thanks to a 4:3 aggregate score.