South China lift community cup 2014

Kitchee and South China met up in Mongkok Stadium on Sunday afternoon for the Hong Kong Jockey Club Community Cup 2014. South China put on a well-rounded solid performance and defeated Kitchee in a 2:0 victory, taking home the Community Cup trophy.

It was South China who generated the first scoring chance of the game on 11^th minute when Yuto Nakamura found an opening and smashed his shot from well outside the Kitchee box. Unfortunately for the Caroliners, Nakamura’s attempt hit a Kitchee player and deflected out of play.

South China went in front on the 17^th minute when Chan Siu-ki turned on the jets down the right-flank before whipping a cross into the Kitchee box. Kitchee defender Fernando Recio and keeper Wang Zhenpeng collided in front of the goal, allowing South China’s Lee Wai-lim to capitalize and coolly directed the ball into the net. South China now enjoyed a one-goal lead.

The Caroliners had a great chance to add to the score on the 25^th minute when Yuto Nakamura’s cross from the left-side found an unmarked Chan Wai-ho inside the Kitchee box. Unfortunately for the South China veteran, his close-range header sailed high above the Kitchee crossbar.

Kitchee had a decent chance to tie the game on the 31^st minute when Alexander Akande broke behind the South China defense but blasted his shot right towards South China keeper Cristian Mora. Kitchee was still trailing at this stage.

Juan Belencoso almost got Kitchee back on level terms on the 41^st minute when the Spanish striker connected with a Lam Ka-wai corner-kick but headed the ball straight into the South China crossbar. Matthew Lam pounced on the rebound but was denied by a superb Cristian Mora save.

South China nearly expanded its lead on the 50^th minute when Juan Belencoso nicely teed up a surging Lo Kwan-yee. The Kitchee captain let rip a wonderful shot but was once again denied by South China keeper Cristian Mora.

The Caroliners made it a two-goal lead on the 60^th minute when Yuto Nakamura’s cross was powered into the Kitchee goal by a leaping Chan Siu-ki at the back-post. South China now enjoyed a two-goal lead.

Kitchee immediately had a chance to cut the deficit into half, when Jorge Tarres found himself facing keeper Cristian Mora one-on-one with the ball. Unfortunately for Kitchee, Tarres’ shot was met by a sprawling Mora, who smartly turned aside the striker’s shot.

Kitchee kept the pressure coming and was nearly rewarded on the 68^th minute, when Daniel Cancela’s cross created havoc inside the South China box. Christian Annan quickly pulled the trigger but failed to hit the target.

South China almost scored the third goal of the game on the 84^th minute when Sean Tse’s thunderbolt was smartly saved by Kitchee keeper Wang Zhenpeng.

Both sides failed to add to the score in the remaining minutes as South China defeated Kitchee 2:0 and took home the Hong Kong Jockey Club Community Cup 2014.