Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Hong Kong: Early goals by Ali Faez and Amjed Radhi proved decisive as Arbil of Iraq advanced to the AFC Cup final for the second time in three years with a 2-1 victory over Hong Kong side Kitchee on Tuesday.
In front of a lively capacity crowd at Mongkok Stadium, Faez opened the scoring after two minutes and Radhi struck five minutes later to put the visitors firmly in charge.
Substitute Gao Wen pulled a goal back for Kitchee midway through the second half but their hopes of becoming the first Hong Kong club to contest the AFC Cup final fell short as Arbil won the tie 3-2 on aggregate.
A torrential thunderstorm that stopped just before kick-off provided slippery conditions for the first half and both sides struggled to control the ball on the wet pitch.
The hosts had the slender advantage of a single away goal, a penalty scored by talismanic striker Juan Belencoso to make it 1-1 after the first leg. But that advantage was rendered moot just two minutes after kick-off when goalkeeper Wang Zhenpeng spilled a routine catch from Faez's free kick to give Arbil the lead.
The visitors then doubled their lead shortly afterwards as midfielder Mohammed Khalid laid the ball off on the left wing for Arbil captain Luay Salah, whose well delivered cross was headed home by Radhi.
For the remainder of the half, Arbil seemed content to let Kitchee play in front of them. Though inventive in midfield, with Lam Ka Wai creating numerous chances, the home side were wasteful in front of goal and Arbil were able to repeatedly break forward on the counter.
Now needing three goals to go through, Kitchee started the second half brightly and with attacking intent. They dominated possession and repeatedly threatened but could not find the breakthrough against a resolute and well-drilled Arbil backline.
But their resistance was finally broken in the 67th minute when Arbil failed to clear their lines after a corner and substitute Gao was able to give the hosts a lifeline as he fired home.
Cheered on by a re-energised home crowd, Kitchee intensified their attacks as the minutes counted down. They looked to have grabbed another goal in stoppage time following a goal-mouth scramble but the ball was hooked off the line as Arbil hung on for the 3-2 aggregate triumph.
Runners-up in 2012 after they lost 4-0 in the final to Kuwait SC, Arbil will now face another Kuwaiti side Qadsia SC, who thrashed Persipura Jayapura 10-2 on aggregate in the other semi-final, to decide who will lift the 2014 AFC Cup.
Photo: WSG