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BOC Life Hong Kong Premier League – Tai Po 1:3 Eastern

2025-03-16

Tai Po met up with Eastern in Tai Po Sports Ground on Sunday afternoon for the 2024-25 Boc Life Hong Kong Premier League clash. Eastern beat Tai Po by 3:1.

In a thrilling BOC Life Hong Kong Premier League encounter at the Tai Po Sports Ground on Sunday (March 16), Eastern clinched a dramatic 3:1 comeback victory against Tai Po, securing all three points in this vital fixture.

The match burst into life from the opening whistle, with both sides displaying attacking intent. Just four minutes in, Eastern's Leung Kwun Chung unleashed a venomous left-footed free-kick from the right flank, forcing the Tai Po shot-stopper into a magnificent save to tip the ball behind.

Tai Po responded in the 11th minute when set-piece specialist Igor Sartori whipped in a dangerous corner, but Lucas Da Silva's powerful header sailed agonizingly over the crossbar.

Eastern's clinical striker Baffoe Noah nearly broke the deadlock moments later, attempting an audacious chip over the onrushing goalkeeper after latching onto a perfectly weighted through ball, but his effort drifted high.

The breakthrough came in the 24th minute when Tai Po executed a well-rehearsed corner routine. Kevin Padilla's short corner found Igor Sartori, who skillfully maneuvered past his marker before delivering a pinpoint cross for Chan Siu Kwan Philip to power home a thunderous header.

As the first half drew to a close, Tai Po continued to press. Lucas Da Silva orchestrated a swift counter-attack, releasing Kevin Padilla down the right channel, but his goal-bound effort was brilliantly smothered by Eastern's alert goalkeeper.

Eastern sought an equalizer before the interval, with Felipe Alexandre delivering an inviting cross from the right wing, but Samuel Narh couldn't direct his header on target.

The teams headed into the dressing rooms with Tai Po holding a slender 1:0 advantage.

After the restart, Tai Po threatened to extend their lead when Chan Siu Kwan Philip unleashed a fierce drive from the edge of the area in the 54th minute, but the goalkeeper proved equal to the task.

Eastern responded with a flowing move in the 58th minute, as Marcos Gondra and Felipe Alexandre combined beautifully before finding Baffoe Noah, whose glancing header was expertly gathered by the Tai Po goalkeeper.

The hosts squandered a golden opportunity to double their advantage in the 65th minute. Chan Siu Kwan Philip's sublime through ball released Kevin Padilla, who rounded the keeper but saw his effort cannon off the upright from an acute angle.

That miss proved costly as Eastern mounted a sensational comeback with a devastating two-minute double salvo. In the 73rd minute, Aleksander Mitrovic rose highest to power home Leung Kwun Chung's precisely delivered corner. Before Tai Po could regroup, Felipe Alexandre and Leung Kwun Chung carved open the defense, with Baffoe Noah completing the turnaround with a clinical header.

Tai Po nearly restored parity in the 87th minute through a spectacular sequence. Patrick Peral and Kevin Padilla combined well before Fung Kwun Ming's thunderbolt struck the woodwork after a partial clearance.

Eastern put the result beyond doubt in stoppage time when deadball specialist Leung Kwun Chung's perfectly weighted free-kick found Baffoe Noah, who showed remarkable composure to slot home his second of the afternoon from a tight angle.

The final whistle confirmed Eastern's impressive comeback victory, as they defeated Tai Po by 3:1 and claimed all three points.

Tai Po 1:3 Eastern