Pegasus lost to Eastern 0-1 in the dying minutes of the match. (PHOTO COURTESY OF HKFA)

The Hong Kong Premier League is set for a very competitive title challenge this year, as three teams are currently leading the table. Eastern, R&F, and Lee Man are all on 13 points, followed by Southern on 12 and Kitchee on 10. However, R&F, Lee Man, and Kitchee all still have one game in hand right now, which puts Eastern and Southern at a slight disadvantage.

While the Premier League will only fully return at the end of December, with the ninth round being played over Christmas and New Year, the HKFA has managed to squeeze in some Sapling Cup rounds in between. 

PEGASUS vs KITCHEE, Sapling Cup Group A, Yuen Long Stadium, Thu Dec 5, 7 pm

Pegasus have won both of their games so far and could therefore catch up with Eastern in Group A, who have accumulated the maximum of nine points

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Pegasus and Kitchee will meet each other at the unusual turf of Yuen Long Stadium for an early mid-week kick off. The Flying Horsemen have just lost to Eastern in the dying minutes of the match, when playmaker Wong Wai scored the only goal with a long range shot in the 86th minute. This means that the Blues could keep their top spot in the table, although the narrow margin between the followers keeps shrinking. 

For Pegasus the defeat was another missed opportunity to get further away from the relegation zone. Nonetheless, the recent form of both teams may not be a major concern, as the Sapling Cup follows its own rules. As usual, each team will be required to field at least three U22 players. Kitchee have so far only salvaged one point in two group games and would therefore be in need of results if they still want to have any realistic chance to finish first, as only the group winners will advance to the final this year.

Pegasus have won both of their games so far and could therefore catch up with Eastern in Group A, who have accumulated the maximum of nine points. This year, the group stage will be played across eight games, so whatever the result, it is not too late for a comeback just yet.

SOUTHERN vs YUEN LONG, Sapling Cup Group B, Siu Sai Wan Sports Ground, Fri Dec 6, 8 pm

The two district sides will meet each other on Friday night at Siu Sai Wan Sports Ground. It should be expected that the city’s second biggest stadium, with a total capacity of nearly 12,000 seats, will not attract too many spectators that evening, as the encounter requires a fairly long trip for fans from the New Territories.

Yuen Long have just experienced a thrilling 4-4 draw with Rangers in the last round of the Premier League, giving up a potential win in the third minute of injury time, when Leandro Basan equalized for the guests. Prior to that, the Tangerines have taken the lead three times, courtesy of a double by Walter Soares Junior and a goal each by Maicon and Yip Tsz-chun. The tie leaves Yuen Long at the bottom of the table, with just three points in seven games.

Yuen Long and Rangers shared points in a thrilling 4-4 draw. (PHOTO COURTESY OF HKFA)

However, Happy Valley, Rangers, and Pegasus are still in reach for them at the moment. Southern has had a more successful weekend, nonetheless, as they thrashed Happy Valley 1-4 at Hammer Hill Road Sports Ground, with James Ha contributing another two goals.

So far, the Aberdeeners have won both of their games in the Sapling Cup and are on top of Group B, followed by runners-up Yuen Long on four points. Hence, with an upset the Tangerines could leapfrog their district rivals and may find themselves still in the contest for silverware. 

R&F vs HAPPY VALLEY, Premier League, Yanzigang Stadium, Sat Dec 7, 2:30 pm

Saturday afternoon will see the only Premier League fixture of the weekend, as R&F and Happy Valley agreed on playing a previously rescheduled match.

The last two rounds were fairly successful for the Guangzhou side, as they first beat Southern 3-4, before drawing nil-nil with Kitchee on last Friday. This may have been a more respectable result for Kitchee than for R&F, however, as the latter have definitely shown greater title ambitions thus far. Despite the goalless draw, R&F are still the most threatening club in the league, having scored a total of 21 goals in just six games, while conceding only nine.

The statistics of Happy Valley are nearly reverse, with a negative goal difference of nine goals. R&F are certainly the clear favourites to get all three points in this game, which would make them the sole leaders of the Premier League for at least two weeks - with already six points ahead of fifth-placed Kitchee. In contrast, for Happy Valley any point would be a huge win, as they will have to brace themselves for a long relegation fight this season.

Lee Man beat Tai Po 4-1 in the Hong Kong Premier League. (PHOTO COURTESY OF HKFA)

Rangers, Eastern, Lee Man, and Tai Po will enjoy a bye-week. The latter may need just that, as Tai Po are still recovering from their 1-4 defeat to Lee Man last weekend. The Bee’s Michael N’dri scored another two goals, which put him on top of the goal scorer list. Both sides will meet each other soon again for the Senior Shield semifinal on Boxing Day, Dec 26.

Meanwhile, HKFA head coach Mixu Paatelainen is preparing the representative team for the upcoming EAFF finals, as the side competes with the national teams of China, Japan, and Korea Republic in the East Asia Cup, which will be held in Busan. There are several absentees in the squad, however, such as Chinese Super League players Andy Russell (Hebei China Fortune) and Alex Akande (Dalian Yifang). The team will also be without Dani Cancela, who was recently injured.

READ MORE: Happy Valley hold Hong Kong Pegasus 3-3 in HK Premier League

Even though China will not send the regular A team to the tournament, coach Li Tie can still rely on several key players from the CSL, including Zhang Xizhe and Yu Dabao of Beijing Guoan, as well as talented Wei Shihao of newly crowned champions Guangzhou Evergrande. The competition will be held between 10 and 18 December and will be broadcast online.