Latest news with #LeeMan
South China Morning Post
25-05-2025
- Sport
- South China Morning Post
Tai Po win Hong Kong Premier League after Lee Man's 15 minutes of madness
Tai Po have won the Hong Kong Premier League in sensational fashion after they swept aside North District 3-1, while 10-man Lee Man crashed to a shock 3-0 defeat by the outstanding BC Rangers. Lee Man had appeared in pole position to claim their second straight title when they began the final day with a one-point advantage over the district club. But there was a dramatic twist when Guilherme Biteco, the midfielder on loan at Rangers from Tai Po, squirmed a 74th-minute shot through the weak resistance of Chan Ka-ho. With five minutes remaining, Luizinho slid in Lau Chi-lok, who kept his composure to slip a low finish across Lee Man No 1 Chan. Lau struck again in similar fashion after 89 minutes, sweeping home first time from a Barak Braunshtain pass. Lee Man, who twice hit the woodwork in the first half, were dealt a huge blow when left-back Ryoya Tachibana collected his second yellow card for a cynical trip on Luizinho after 51 minutes. Tai Po, meanwhile, were 3-0 in front after an hour against North District, following a double for Lucas Silva, either side of Patrick Valverde's effort late in the first half.
South China Morning Post
25-05-2025
- Sport
- South China Morning Post
Tai Po win Hong Kong Premier League after Lee Man's 15 minutes of madness
Tai Po have won the Hong Kong Premier League in sensational fashion after they swept aside North District 3-1, while 10-man Lee Man crashed to a shock 3-0 defeat by the outstanding BC Rangers. Lee Man had appeared in pole position to claim their second straight title when they began the final day with a one-point advantage over the district club. But there was a dramatic twist when Guilherme Biteco, the midfielder on loan at Rangers from Tai Po, squirmed a 74th-minute shot through the weak resistance of Chan Ka-ho. With five minutes remaining, Luizinho slid in Lau Chi-lok, who kept his composure to slip a low finish across Lee Man No 1 Chan. Lau struck again in similar fashion after 89 minutes, sweeping home first time from a Barak Braunshtain pass. Lee Man, who twice hit the woodwork in the first half, were dealt a huge blow when left-back Ryoya Tachibana collected his second yellow card for a cynical trip on Luizinho after 51 minutes. Tai Po, meanwhile, were 3-0 in front after an hour against North District, following a double for Lucas Silva, either side of Patrick Valverde's effort late in the first half.
South China Morning Post
14-05-2025
- Sport
- South China Morning Post
Dutch footballer in Hong Kong laments city's ‘bad' league – but wants to stay
Lee Man midfielder Mitchel Paulissen has indicated he wants to extend his stint in Hong Kong – despite saying the local Premier League serves up slow football, poor players and substandard pitches. Advertisement The Dutchman is closing in on his second league title in as many seasons with Lee Man and was overcome with emotion last Sunday after a 101st-minute winner at Kowloon City kept them on course to retain their crown. But he said the city had yet to see the best of him since he arrived two summers ago, having spent his career up to then in the Netherlands' top two divisions. 'I've not reached anywhere close to my level here,' the 32-year-old said. 'A lot of things make it hard: the pitches, the weather, the teams you play against – you cannot call it football. 'But I hope I can win a second league title. I've played almost every game, which shows I've made a good contribution to the team. Mitchel Paulissen (second from left) leaps during January's Senior Shield final against Eastern. Photo: Elson Li 'For 15 years, I played with a structure, with a passing game. Here, it is totally different; you need to survive on your own. But I survived.'
South China Morning Post
13-05-2025
- Sport
- South China Morning Post
Football bosses observing VAR officials? Tai Po coach calls for transparency
Lee Chi-kin, the Tai Po head coach, has called for more transparency around football's use of VAR, and lamented a series of damaging calls against his team. During a potentially season-wrecking recent run, Tai Po conceded penalties in four straight matches, as they lost two cup semi-finals and drew a pair of league fixtures to surrender top spot to Lee Man. Lee claimed his players were 'scared to touch anyone in the box' during a restorative 3-2 victory at BC Rangers on Saturday. 'You can imagine the pressure on our players … it's a problem now – not a normal situation,' Lee said. 'I'm angry about it.' Tai Po felt Noah Baffoe (right) fouled Gabriel Cividini (left) before scoring. Photo: Jonathan Wong In addition to the penalty decisions, Tai Po felt wronged when a shove on defender Gabriel Cividini went unpunished in the lead-up to Eastern's first FA Cup semi-final goal. Lee also attributed his team's chronic injury situation to opponents being allowed to rough them up with impunity.
South China Morning Post
11-05-2025
- Sport
- South China Morning Post
Hong Kong Premier League drama as Lee Man cling to summit in crazy climax
Chu Siu-kei said his Lee Man team 'used all our luck' following a chaotic end to their 2-1 victory over Kowloon City in the Hong Kong Premier League on Sunday. Advertisement The drama began when Ryan Tafazolli, the Lee Man defender, was sent off following a second bookable offence in the 89th minute. From coasting at 1-0 up thanks to Henri Anier's first-half strike at Sham Shui Po Sports Ground, the league leaders suddenly looked vulnerable to a barrage of Kowloon attacks. But the equaliser arrived in semi-farcical fashion after nine minutes of stoppage time when goalkeeper Chan Ka-ho failed to spot the lurking Kayron Ramos as he rolled the ball in front of him. A gleeful Ramos pinched possession to score and spark wild celebrations. Goalscorer Henri Anier's Lee Man future will be decided at the end of the season. Photo: Elson Li Interim head coach Chu later said he had 'given up', and was 'just thinking about how to talk to Ka-ho'. His despair lasted a mere two minutes. Lee Man poured forward and, with the last play of the match, Kim Min-kyu's right-wing cross invited Samuel Rosa to crash home a header, prompting more jubilant scenes. Advertisement The Brazilian's goal sent Lee Man back above Tai Po at the top of the table with two games remaining.
