After spending most of the season chasing for the top spot in the premier league, Kitchee finally achieved its goal by defeating Eastern Long Lions 4:1 in the final round of the premier league season, overtaking its arch-rival, reaching the summit of the league and winning the coveted premier league trophy. Needing a victory to clinch the premier league title, Kitchee went on attacking mode to start the game and nearly got rewarded. Unfortunately, Alessandro Leonardo saw his penalty-kick stopped by the opposing keeper in the early minutes, as Kitchee continued to search for the opening goal. However, the Blues did manage to get on the scoreboard moments later, as Leonardo connected with a Fernando Pedreira cross and coolly headed the ball home, putting Kitchee in front 1:0. Later in the first half, Leonardo was at it again. This time, the lanky striker picked up the ball through a timely cross from Helio Goncalves and buried his chance from goal-mouth, making it 2:0 for Kitchee heading into the interval. After the game resumed in the second half, Kitchee kept the pressure coming and bagged the next goal, as Krisztian Vadocz found himself on the receiving end of a Jared Lum corner-kick and directed the ball into the net through a lovely header. Eastern Long Lions did answer back through a fantastic strike by Michel Lugo but midway in the second half, Leonardo struck again and made it 4:1 for Kitchee, eventually sealing the Blues’ victory on the day. Midfield bruiser Huang Yang could not contain his delight after winning the premier league title in such dramatic fashion. “We won the match because we started positively with two quick goals. Then we managed to add another one early in the second half and never quite looked back. I was really suppressing my emotions throughout the game and it really exploded after the final whistle, especially seeing how emotional our supporters got. Everything was just so unforgettable,” Huang said after the game. Hat-trick hero Alessandro Leonardo spoke about believing in Kitchee’s title chances all along over the past few months. “It was stifling hot today (Saturday) on the pitch but we were never affected by it. We started the game in attacking mode, hoping to beat the opponent and winning the league trophy. Even though we were trailing in the premier league table over the past few months, I always believed that we were in control of our destiny and could force this showdown game to take place. It is unbelievable to be able to deliver the premier league title to these wonderful Kitchee supporters and I am certainly over the moon at this moment,” offered the Kitchee goal-machine.
Kitchee reclaimed premier league title by defeatin
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