Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Hong Kong: Hong Kong’s Kitchee set up a date with Korea Republic’s Ulsan Hyundai FC in the 2017 AFC Champions League Play-offs thanks to a 3-2 extra-time win against Hanoi FC of Vietnam in their Preliminary Stage 2 match on Wednesday.
Argentine Gonzalo Marronkle opened the scoring for the visitors on 73 minutes before Alessandro Leonardo drew Kitchee level 12 minutes later, forcing both sides into extra time at the Hong Kong Stadium.
Alexander Akande grabbed the lead for Kitchee on 109 minutes, only for Gonzalo to level matters six minutes later. Lam Ka-wai, however, duly found Kitchee’s winner to hand the Hong Kong side their best performance yet in the continent’s premier club competition.
Kitchee will play Ulsan on February 7 for a spot in Group E of the AFC Champions League where J.League champions and Emperor’s Cup winners Kashima Antlers, Thai champions Muangthong United and a yet to be determined Play-off winner await.
Hanoi, meanwhile, will appear in Group G of the AFC Cup where they will take on Malaysia’s Felda United, Tampines Rovers of Singapore and Filipino side Ceres Negros.
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