In a thrilling BOC Life Hong Kong Premier League encounter at HK Football Club Ground on Sunday (December 22), HKFC clinched a hard-fought 1:0 triumph over Kwoon Chung Southern, claiming all threee points.

Kwoon Chung Southern’s game plan was thrown into disarray after just 9 minutes when Gregory Rocha was given his marching orders following a challenge on Callum Beattie. After consulting the Video Assistant Referee (VAR), the match official brandished a straight red card, forcing Kwoon Chung Southern to reshape their tactics with 10 men.

Despite their numerical disadvantage, Kwoon Chung Southern carved out a promising opportunity in the 20th minute. Stefan Pereira connected with a well-weighted header from Sasaki Shu on the edge of the 18-yard box, but his swift turn and strike was comfortably gathered by the goalkeeper.

HKFC began to assert their dominance, making full use of the extra man. Callum Beattie unleashed a speculative effort from distance in the 22nd minute, but his left-footed drive whistled past the upright.

HKFC came agonizingly close to breaking the deadlock in the 28th minute when Mamadou Habib's thunderous right-footed strike from range cannoned off the woodwork, much to the relief of the Kwoon Chung Southern defense.

The pressure continued to mount as HKFC launched wave after wave of attacks. A flowing move in the 33rd minute saw Daniel Scally whip in a dangerous cross from the right flank. Jesus Salazar cleverly teed up Daniel Scally, whose goal-bound effort was heroically blocked. Moments later, Wong Sum Chit Sherman's penetrating run down the left channel resulted in a shot from an acute angle, which the keeper parried, before denying Daniel Scally's follow-up attempt.

HKFC's persistence finally paid dividends on the stroke of half-time. Following a poor defensive clearance, Jesus Salazar showed clinical finishing, rifling an unstoppable right-footed drive into the back of the net.

The scoreboard read 1:0 in favor of HKFC as the teams headed for the interval.

After the restart, Kwoon Chung Southern showed great character in their pursuit of an equalizer. Mahama Awal's powerful drive inside the penalty area was bravely blocked behind, while the 66th minute saw Sasaki Shu deliver an inviting free-kick that found Wong Ho Yin, whose close-range effort sailed over the crossbar.

Drama unfolded in the 76th minute when Lai Hoi To's challenge on Sasaki Shu in the box prompted a VAR review. The referee pointed to the spot, but Sasaki Shu's penalty kick struck the upright, squandering a golden opportunity to level the proceedings.

In the dying moments, Kwoon Chung Southern were denied by the woodwork once again. Jackson Franklim's precise free-kick delivery found Wong Ho Yin, whose goal-bound header cruelly ricocheted off the post.

HKFC successfully weathered the late storm to secure all three points, maintaining the 1:0 scoreline until the final whistle and claiming all three points.

HKFC 1:0 Kwoon Chung Southern