Hong Kong FA Cup: Kitchee boss furious after Chan hat-trick seals Tai Po comeback
After being enlisted as a false nine, Philip Chan Siu-kwan looked every inch an authentic centre-forward as he scored his first career hat-trick in Tai Po's thrilling 3-2 FA Cup quarter-final victory over Kitchee on Saturday.
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Kitchee appeared to be cruising towards a semi-final date with Eastern or Kowloon City when they led 2-0 at Mong Kok Stadium following well-taken goals from Fernando and Sherzod Temirov.
Chan's smart 38th-minute headed finish brought demons flooding to the surface for Kitchee, after they collapsed from 2-0 up to lose 3-2 to Kowloon on Wednesday.
'It didn't cross my mind, because it's a different game – all I thought about was how we were going to execute,' Chan said. 'With my level of game, I know I can bring the team to a different level.'
Kitchee forward Juninho delivers a cross during his side's 3-2 FA Cup loss to Tai Po. Photo: Kitchee SC
Hong Kong midfielder Chan occupied the more advanced role because regular striker Lucas Silva was a late withdrawal through injury. Lee Chi-kin, the Tai Po head coach, said further injury blows for defenders Gabriel Cividini and Marcao – taken to hospital after hurting a knee – removed some gloss from a remarkable comeback.
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But if Lee, who is missing a handful of other key performers, finds more solutions to match his redeployment of Chan, league leaders Tai Po have every chance of achieving double success.
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