Kitchee sent packing in Senior Shield semi-final t

through a shocking 1:3 defeat by Sun Bus Yuen Long. The surprising loss not only signaled Kitchee’s fate in the Senior Shield competition, but also marked the Blues’ first defeat in all competitions during the current campaign. Kitchee did not start the game well yet managed to open the score past the half-hour mark with an Alessandro Leonardo header. However, Kitchee’s joy was short-lived, as Ip Chung-long’s tight-angle shot moments later brought the New Territories side back on level terms. Sun Bus Yuen Long continued to threaten the Kitchee goal in the second-half and nearly pulled ahead. Everton Camargo’s quick shot from inside the box ended up hitting the goal-post, while Lau Ka-ming’s ferocious shot was splendidly denied by a courageous charge from keeper Wang Zhenpeng. The game remained 1:1 and entered extra-time. Early in extra-time, substitute Daniel Cancela picked up his second booking of the game and his subsequent marching order. Kitchee was down to ten men. Afterwards, Everton Camargo nicked the ball off a Kitchee player, darted into the box before finishing off with a bullet strike that found the back of the net, putting Sun Bus Yuen Long in front. Late in the game, Everton Camargo did more or less the same, rounded Kitchee keeper Wang Zhenpeng and scored his second goal on the day, completing Kitchee’s collapse. Kitchee midfielder Huang Yang sees the resounding loss as a clear message to the Blues. The tenacious midfielder insists the team will need to buck up its ideas and press for improvements going forward. “We were awful in possession, pressing and one-on-one situations throughout the game,” Huang did not mince his words in the post-game media scrum. “Maybe crashing out of the Senior Shield semi-final will send us a clear message, telling us to seize the moment and to look into the mirror. Krisztian’s (Vadocz) suspension had a huge effect on the team but we really need to step up our attitude – no matter who we face, we should be pressing with our feet on the paddle.” Winger Lam Zhi Gin points out the Blues’ inability to string together passes as the main culprit in the disappointing loss. “Sun Bus Yuen Long played really well on the day while we simply did not perform. Sometimes, that is just how football goes and we can only get our act together as quickly as possible and try to prepare for the next game,” Lam offered. “Looking back at the game, we did a horrible job with our passing, gifting the opponent chances after chances, allowing them clear paths towards our goal.”