Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Bandung: Hong Kong treble winners Kitchee secured a third consecutive appearance in the quarter-finals of the AFC Cup after first half goals from Juan Belencoso and Lam Ka Wai secured a 2-0 win over Indonesia’s Persib Bandung on Wednesday.
Spanish striker Belencoso opened the scoring after 33 minutes of the last 16 tie at Si Jalak Harupat Stadium before Lam added a second for Group F runners-up Kitchee on the stroke of half-time.
And with Group H winners Persib unable to find a response in the second half to avoid a first defeat of the campaign, 2014 semi-finalists Kitchee joined compatriots South China in the June 18 quarter-final draw.
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Kitchee, seeking a perfect end to the season after landing the Hong Kong Premier League, League Cup and FA Cup crowns, started brightly as Xu Deshuai’s cross hit the crossbar after just seven minutes before Christian Annan scuffed wide from close to the penalty spot.
Persib also made an equally determined start to the open contest, although Kitchee did have the ball in the back of the net after 26 minutes but Kwesi had strayed just offside inside the penalty area from Lam’s pass before beating Persib custodian I Made Wirawan.
But Kitchee did take the lead 12 minutes before half-time as Cheung Kin Fung made space for himself on the near touchline, and despite Belencoso being the only Kitchee player inside the Persib area, the pin-point cross towards the edge of the six yard area was met by the striker who powered a header over Wirawan.
Persib, though, were unlucky not to hit back almost immediately as Supardi struck the foot of the Kitchee post with a long range strike.
But in the last minute of the first half Kitchee doubled their advantage as Lam followed up with a vicious first-time swerving strike from the edge of the area after Xu’s initial free-kick had come back off the Persib wall, with an unsighted Wirawan unable to react in time.
Persib showed plenty of attacking threat at the start of the contest as the home side sought a way back into the contest through Hariono and Tantan, but Kitchee goalkeeper Wang Zhenpeng remained largely untested.
Wang was called into action after 80 minutes to save low at his near post from Tantan, but despite strong late pressure from the home side as Muhammad Ridwan also went close, Kitchee were denied sealing the win with four minutes remaining as Cheung Kwok Ming hit the post.
Photo: WSG