All Conquering Kitchee Punches Ticket for HKFA Lea

Reigning League Cup champion Kitchee defeated fellow Group A side Dreams Metro Gallery 3:0 in the final group match on Sunday afternoon, claiming maximum points in the process while advancing to the semi-final as the top dog of Group A in all-conquering fashion. With a semi-final berth already locked up prior to kick-off, Kitchee deployed several youngsters in its starting lineup on Sunday, hoping to offer them valuable match experience. Yet the blues still started the game with the upper hand, as Matthew Lam saw his thunderbolt hitting the woodwork and stayed out of the Dreams Metro Gallery net, unable to open the score for his side in the first half. Kitchee quickly reaped the rewards in the second half, as Rufino Sgovia opened the score with a fabulous solo strike, opening the flood gates for more goals to come. Afterwards, it was strike partner Jorge Tarres who broke behind the Dreams Metro Gallery defense, then rounded the keeper and slotted the ball home with confidence, making it 2:0 for Kitchee. Tarres made it 3:0 for the blues later in the game by converting a penalty-shot, sealing Kitchee’s victory in the process. Veteran striker Jorge Tarres, who netted a brace in the game, was glad to see his side emerging as group winner with a hundred percent record. “We always give a hundred percent effort in every game that we play. Sometimes we will win and sometimes we will not. But I am just glad that we came out from the League Cup group stage with a hundred percent winning record. It is certainly very exciting indeed. Hopefully, we can keep the good run going, go deep in the tournament and take home the trophy,” offered the charismatic goal-machine. Rufino Sgovia, who is on a two-game scoring streak since joining the club recently, spoke about his joy on contributing to the team’s victory. “While we were unable to score in the first half, our opponent seemed to get tired in the second half and we managed to capitalize on our chances and put a few goals past them,” explained the Kitchee striker. “I am very happy to be able to score for Kitchee again and that really boosts my confidence. Hopefully, I can continue to help the team to secure more victories down the road.”