Tai Po played against Eastern at Mong Kok Stadium on Sunday afternoon for the 2024-25 Kwoon Chung Bus 60th Anniversary FA Cup Semi Final fixture of the day. Tai Po draw with Eastern by 1:1 in the legal time. After the extra time, Eastern defeated Tai Po by 2:1 and promoted to the final.
Tai Po played against Eastern at Mong Kok Stadium on Sunday afternoon for the 2024-25 Kwoon Chung Bus 60th Anniversary FA Cup Semi Final fixture of the day. Tai Po draw with Eastern by 1:1 in the legal time. After the extra time, Eastern defeated Tai Po by 2:1 and promoted to the final.
In a thrilling encounter at Mong Kok Stadium on Sunday (April 20), Eastern secured their place in the Kwoon Chung Bus 60th Anniversary FA Cup final after edging past Tai Po in a nail-biting 2:1 extra-time victory, following a deadlocked 1:1 draw in regulation time.
The opening exchanges saw Tai Po's Michel Renner test the waters with a speculative effort in the 6th minute, latching onto Igor Sartori's precise delivery from the left flank, only to drag his right-footed attempt wide of the upright from the edge of the 18-yard box.
Tai Po continued to press forward, and on the quarter-hour mark, a slick move down the right channel saw Igor Sartori whip in a dangerous cross, but Michel Renner's goal-bound effort was expertly denied by the keeper's outstretched leg.
Against the run of play, Eastern broke the deadlock when Leung Kwun Chung's defense-splitting long ball found Baffoe Noah, who displayed exceptional composure to execute an exquisite chip over the onrushing goalkeeper, sending the Eastern faithful into raptures.
Tai Po mounted a fierce response before the interval, with Patrick Peral unleashing a powerful drive from distance following Michel Renner's clever pass. Moments later, their persistence paid off as Lee Ka Ho's pinpoint cross from the right flank found Michel Renner, who made no mistake from close range with a clinical finish.
As the teams headed into the tunnel, the scoreboard reflected a deserved 1:1 stalemate.
The second period witnessed end-to-end action with both sides creating gilt-edged opportunities. Eight minutes after the restart, Tai Po's Igor Sartori showed great anticipation to dispossess his opponent before surging into the box, only to see his venomous left-footed drive whistle inches wide of the post.
Eastern responded a perfectly weighted corner kick two minutes later, finding the towering Baffoe Noah whose powerful header forced a spectacular save from the Tai Po shot-stopper.
Tai Po continued to threaten, with Italo Montano squandering a golden opportunity in the 62nd minute after being teed up by Michel Renner on the edge of the area. Shortly after, Igor Sartori's mazy run into the box culminated in a right-footed effort that was confidently gathered by the goalkeeper.
In the dying moments of normal time, Lee Ka Ho's inviting free-kick found Gabriel Roberto unmarked, but the defender couldn't direct his header on target, sending the match into extra time.
The additional period began with Tai Po showing greater intent, as Michel Renner's defense-splitting through ball in the 95th minute found Italo in space, only for Eastern's Leung Chun Pong to produce a crucial last-ditch block. Sixty seconds later, Italo Montano turned provider for Michel Renner, whose ambitious effort from range sailed harmlessly over the crossbar.
The decisive moment came in the 108th minute when Tai Po's Kevin Moreno was penalized for handball inside the area. Baffoe Noah stepped up and demonstrated nerves of steel, sending the keeper the wrong way with a composed left-footed finish to complete his brace and put Eastern in the driving seat at 2:1.
Eastern's resolute defensive display in the closing stages ensured their passage to the showpiece final, defeating Tai Po by 2:1.