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Eastern keeps FA Cup title on late Baffoe hat-trick

Eastern keeps FA Cup title on late Baffoe hat-trick

RTHK2 days ago

Eastern keeps FA Cup title on late Baffoe hat-trick
Eastern forward Noah Baffoe scored three goals in five minutes to seal a comeback win for the club. Photo courtesy of Eastern FC's Facebook
Eastern Football Club on Saturday held on to their Hong Kong FA Cup title, thanks to a brilliant hat-trick by forward Noah Baffoe late in the game.
BC Rangers' Lau Chi-lok opened the scoring early in the final at Mong Kok Stadium, finding the net less than 10 minutes after the match began.
But Baffoe, the 32-year-old Eastern striker who had just been crowned Hong Kong Footballer of the Year, netted three goals in five minutes from the 80th minute to secure a 3-1 comeback for Eastern.
This is the club's seventh FA Cup win in its history.

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Eastern keeps FA Cup title on late Baffoe hat-trick
Eastern keeps FA Cup title on late Baffoe hat-trick

RTHK

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  • RTHK

Eastern keeps FA Cup title on late Baffoe hat-trick

Eastern keeps FA Cup title on late Baffoe hat-trick Eastern forward Noah Baffoe scored three goals in five minutes to seal a comeback win for the club. Photo courtesy of Eastern FC's Facebook Eastern Football Club on Saturday held on to their Hong Kong FA Cup title, thanks to a brilliant hat-trick by forward Noah Baffoe late in the game. BC Rangers' Lau Chi-lok opened the scoring early in the final at Mong Kok Stadium, finding the net less than 10 minutes after the match began. But Baffoe, the 32-year-old Eastern striker who had just been crowned Hong Kong Footballer of the Year, netted three goals in five minutes from the 80th minute to secure a 3-1 comeback for Eastern. This is the club's seventh FA Cup win in its history.

Eastern win Hong Kong FA Cup after brilliant Noah Baffoe hat-trick downs Rangers
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Noah Baffoe bagged a brilliant four-minute hat-trick as Eastern retained the Hong Kong FA Cup on Saturday, beating BC Rangers 3-1 at Mong Kok Stadium. Advertisement Leading 1-0 with 10 minutes remaining, after Lau Chi-lok's early strike, Rangers looked on course to claim the trophy for the first time since 1995. But a previously subdued Baffoe sprang to life with time running out, when he ran onto a pass behind Rangers' defence to squeeze a shot past the onrushing Oleksii Shliakotin. If that was a piece of predatory expertise from Baffoe, what the Spaniard did next was coated with genius. After gathering a pass from substitute Timmy Ma Hei-wai, Baffoe turned to guide a 25-yard chip beyond the helpless 6ft 5in goalkeeper Shliakotin. Only two more minutes had elapsed when Baffoe, crowned Hong Kong footballer of the year on Wednesday, chased down a pass over the top from Clement Benhaddouche and thumped a bouncing ball inside the left post. It was his 35th goal of the season and seventh in three FA Cup matches. Advertisement The victory for Eastern added to their success in the Senior Shield. It also secured Hong Kong's second Asian Champions League Two spot, alongside league champions Tai Po, for next season, and HK$350,000 (US$45,000) in prize money.

Rejuvenated Rangers aim for Hong Kong FA Cup glory to launch new golden era
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Wong Chin-hung has challenged his BC Rangers players to launch a new golden era for the club when they go for FA Cup glory against holders Eastern on Saturday. Advertisement Rangers' dynamism in a 3-0 rout of Lee Man last weekend was testament to how Wong, one of Hong Kong's brightest young managers, has transformed a once flatlining team since taking over in October. He ripped up an all-attacking policy and his methods built confidence. His side can underline their revival in a Mong Kok Stadium final bearing special meaning for Wong, 43, who won the 2016 league as a player with Eastern, then began his coaching career there the following year. 'If we win, it would be an important moment in the club's history,' said Wong, a former left-back who won the 2011 cup with South China. 'It could make our future very different … we will play in AFC Champions League 2, so the board might invest.' Wong Chin-hung is becoming one of Hong Kong's brightest young bosses. Photo: BC Rangers Asked if that could mean a marquee recruit like his ex-South China teammates Nicky Butt and Mateja Kezman, Wong said: 'Nothing is impossible. This level of player has a great impact on the league … they share their experiences with teammates, and make their opponents pay more attention.' Advertisement Wong has aimed high since he pursued football against his parents' wishes. 'I was always getting injured, so they didn't want me to play,' he said. 'They never came to watch my games.'

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