HKFC met Kwoon Chung Southern in HKFC Football Ground on Sunday afternoon (10th November) for the 2024-25 BOC Life Hong Kong Premier League clash. Kwoon Chung Southern beat HKFC by 4:3.

The match burst into life early on, with Kwoon Chung Southern drawing first blood in the 4th minute. Stefan Pereira, demonstrating his clinical finishing, latched onto a pinpoint header from his teammate and unleashed a thunderbolt from the edge of the box that nestled into the top corner, leaving the HKFC keeper rooted to the spot.

The floodgates opened, and Kwoon Chung Southern doubled their lead just two minutes later. In a frantic goalmouth scramble, Gregory Rocha, Raphael Merkies, and Stefan Pereira all saw their efforts parried by the HKFC goalkeeper. However, the ball fell kindly to the unmarked Gregory Rocha, who made no mistake from close range, slotting home to make it 2:0.

HKFC, stunned by the early onslaught, finally found their footing in the 13th minute. Jack Sealy delivered an inch-perfect cross from the right flank, and Daniel Scally rose highest, powering home a header to halve the deficit.

The end-to-end action continued as Kwoon Chung Southern's Jackson Franklim came close to restoring the two-goal cushion. The striker showcased his silky skills, dancing past his marker on the edge of the box before unleashing a venomous drive that forced a spectacular save from the goalkeeper.

HKFC's persistence paid off on the half-hour mark when they found the equalizer. Jesus Salazar, showcasing his blistering pace, embarked on a lung-bursting run down the left wing. The forward then cut inside, leaving defenders in his wake, before calmly slotting past the onrushing keeper to level the scores at 2:2.

However, Kwoon Chung Southern regained the lead on the stroke of half-time. After a VAR review, the referee pointed to the spot for a handball by Lai Hoi To. Stefan Pereira stepped up, showing nerves of steel to convert the penalty and complete his brace, sending his team into the break with a 3:2 advantage.

The second half saw Kwoon Chung Southern extend their lead in spectacular fashion. In the 47th minute, Stefan Pereira, showcasing his predatory instincts, pounced on a loose ball near the halfway line. The striker then produced a moment of magic, catching the HKFC keeper off his line with an audacious lob that sailed into the net, making it 4:2.

Despite further chances for Kwoon Chung Southern, with both Gregory Rocha and Mahama Awal going close, HKFC refused to throw in the towel. Their persistence was rewarded in the 85th minute when Daniel Scally's dangerous cross led to a handball by Kawase Kota. After another VAR review, the referee awarded a penalty, which Daniel Scally confidently dispatched for his second of the match, setting up a grandstand finish at 3:4.

In the dying moments, HKFC came agonizingly close to a dramatic equalizer. A defense-splitting through ball found Wong Sum Chit Sherman, who burst into the box and unleashed a powerful drive from a tight angle. However, the goalkeeper proved equal to the task, producing a match-winning save to preserve his team's lead.

As the final whistle blew, Kwoon Chung Southern emerged victorious in this pulsating encounter, claiming all three points.

HKFC 3:4 Kwoon Chung Southern