RCFC and Eastern met up in Tsing Yi Sports Ground on Sunday afternoon for the last remaining BOC Life Hong Kong Premier League fixture of the busy football weekend. Two goals from Victor Bertomeu, plus a goal from Tamirlan Kozubaev, saw Eastern overpowered RCFC through a 3:0 victory.
RCFC and Eastern met up in Tsing Yi Sports Ground on Sunday afternoon for the last remaining BOC Life Hong Kong Premier League fixture of the busy football weekend. Two goals from Victor Bertomeu, plus a goal from Tamirlan Kozubaev, saw Eastern overpowered RCFC through a 3:0 victory.
RCFC produced the first genuine scoring chance on the 11th minute, as Robert Odu tested Eastern goalkeeper Yapp Hung-fai with a shot from inside the penalty area but failed to beat the Hong Kong international custodian.
Eastern came close to breaking the game open on the 25th minute. Emilio Estevez’s corner-kick was met by Marcos Gondra. The latter sent a thumping header towards the RCFC goal but went just wide off the intended target with his effort.
Approaching the half-hour mark, Eastern came close once again. This time, veteran midfielder Leung Chun-pong unloaded a powerful drive from just outside the RCFC box but sent the ball over the RCFC crossbar.
Shortly afterwards, Eastern finally managed to break the game open, as Victor Bertomeu’s drive from the top of the RCFC penalty area somehow found its way into the back of the net. Eastern was now enjoying a 1:0 lead over RCFC.
RCFC had a superb chance to draw level on the 36th minute. Jordan Lam did well on the flank and knocked the ball towards the middle. Philip Chan caught up with the ball and belted it straight towards the Eastern net, only to send it over the crossbar.
Late in the first half, RCFC had another chance to pull level, yet Jordan Lam’s free-kick failed to beat Eastern goalkeeper Yapp Hung-fai.
The first half finished with Eastern enjoying a 1:0 lead over RCFC.
RCFC stormed out of the second half and almost netted the equalizer. On the 49th minute, Philip Chan teed up Jordan Lam with a fine pass. Lam unloaded on a quick shot but could not beat Yapp Hung-fai with his effort.
It was actually Eastern that scored the next goal of the game. On the 56th minute, Tamirlan Kozubaev connected with a teammate’s corner-kick delivery and headed the ball home from near-post. Eastern was now up by 2:0.
Moments later, Eastern nearly pulled further away, as Sun Ming-him’s long range effort from the right flank was splendidly denied by Lam Chun-kit in the RCFC net.
On the 62nd minute, Eastern made it 3:0 on the scoreboard. A melee near the RCFC doorstep eventually saw Eastern’s Victor Bertomeu smashing the ball home. Eastern was gradually pulling away with a 3:0 lead.
Eastern was dealt an unexpected blow on the 75th minute, when Gul Kaan was shown a straight red card by the referee for a serious foul. Eastern was left with ten men on the pitch.
The score stood all the way towards the final whistle, as Eastern secured a 3:0 victory over RCFC.