STUTTERING KITCHEE STOP THE ROT BUT DOMESTIC TITLE COULD BE SETTLED TODAY
Kim Dong-jin, the under-fire interim Kitchee head coach, paid tribute to the “character and mentality” of his players following a 3-0 victory over Southern that kept alive the race for the Hong Kong Premier League title. Kitchee’s season had imploded over a harrowing first half of this month with three successive defeats in three competitions, while Kim was relegated to a back-seat role for cup losses against Eastern and BC Rangers in the past week.
And the South Korean again adopted a low touchline profile yesterday as assistant manager Edgar Cardoso demonstratively coached the reigning champions. Kim refused to comment on his future after Kitchee stopped the rot, with Fernando, Charlie Scott and Cleiton Velasques all on target against a compliant Southern.
The victory means Lee Man must earn at least one point at Sham
Shui Po today to wrap up the title. Defeat for the leaders would set up a last-day title shoot-out with Kitchee next Sunday. Kitchee strengthened their grip on second position, at least, with Tai Po surprisingly held 1-1 at RCFC to slip two points behind Kim’s team in third.
“It was a very difficult moment after the disappointment of the past three games,” Kim said. “We want to keep second place, and we don’t know what will happen with Lee Man [today] so we need to fight until the end. The players showed that we are strong.”
In separate episodes at Aberdeen Sports Ground, defender Andy Russell and the fiery Fernando remonstrated with Cardoso because of an apparent lack of clarity in instructions. Kitchee regained some of their ruthlessness, however, controlling the game from the moment Fernando turned home Shinichi Chan’s low cross for a third-minute lead.
Wang Zhenpeng, their goalkeeper, was scarcely troubled, with Southern bereft of ideas and quality in the final third. Jakob Jantscher was perhaps fortunate to escape a second yellow card for a careless 39th-minute challenge on Shu Sasaki.
Scott put the result beyond doubt with a fine 20-yard strike inside Ng Wai-him’s left post after 69 minutes. Within 60 seconds it was three. Velasques met Jantscher’s lofted delivery with a diving header. Southern escaped further damage as Juninho hit a post, Ng saved athletically from Sherzod Temirov and an aghast Fernando was denied a goal direct from a corner after a foul was spotted.
“I was pleased with every player’s effort, attitude, character and mentality,” Kim said. “We needed to bounce back ... and win.”