Kitchee became the first Hong Kong team ever to reach the AFC Champions League knock-out stage. An injury-time equaliser secured a 2-2 draw on Sunday with Vissel Kobe.
When Yoshinori Muto scored in the 87th minute to put Vissel 2-1 ahead, Kichee’s chance of progressing looked remote. But as they have done throughout the tournament Kitchee dug deep and Raul Baena scored with a header in the 91st minute to earn the point needed to progress.
image: AFP/Asian Football Federation
Kitchee became the first Hong Kong team to win a match in the AFC Champions League when in dramatic fashion with a goal in the 93 minute they beat Japan’s Kashiwa Reysol 1-0 at the Hong Kong Stadium.
Kitchee academy graduate Cheng Chin Lung, an 80th minute substitute, was the hero… Deep in stoppage time the 20 year-old picked up the ball on right side of the penalty area, moved the ball onto his left foot and curled a spectacular shot into the top left hand corner of the net. A goal worthy of an historic achievement.
“I always remember my father’s words: ‘If you do not shoot, you will never score,” said Cheng after the match. “I need to thank him, as he always encourages me to play better and to shoot more.”
Watch the match highlights here
