Da Silva leads Sun Hei in Workable rout
A hat-trick by Giovane da Silva helped Convoy Sun Hei score their biggest victory of the season as they thrashed Workable 6-1 in the Coolpoint First Division League.
In the opening match of yesterday's double header at Mong Kok Stadium, Kitchee failed to avenge their Senior Shield final defeat to Eastern as they were held to a 1-1 draw by the same opponents.
Sun Hei got off to a flying start with goals from newcomer Roger Batoum and Mauricio Pizzi in the early stages. And once the Brazilian striker Da Silva struck three times in the following 18 minutes, the match was over.
In the midst of Da Silva's three goals, Roberto Fronza scored Workable's lone consolation from the penalty spot in the 32nd, but the goal made little impact on the final result.
Chan Yiu-lun made it 6-1 for Sun Hei with the only goal of the second period. Despite the emphatic nature of the scoreline, Sun Hei coach Koo Luam Khen was far from happy. 'Both sides were hardly at their best after a break of almost a month in the League,' said the coach. 'We have their defence to thank because a number of goals came as New Year gifts.'
Koo, however, was delighted with the performance of Batoum, who was making a return to Hong Kong after playing in the Indonesian League for three seasons.
'He holds the ball well up front and looks capable of scoring, but he still needs time to get full match fitness and blend in with the rest of the team,' he said.
Koo admitted the victory did not mean Sun Hei had any hope of clinching the league title as they are still 10 points behind runaway leaders South China.
'Our target is the cup competitions for the remainder of the season,' he said. 'South China are almost certain to win the League title now.'
Workable player-coach Lee Kin-wo, who played his first full 90-minute match in more than two seasons, said his young charges needed time to mature.
'The result was hard to take but it did not surprise me. Our defence made some mistakes and many of our youngsters are inexperienced,' said the 40-year-old veteran.
In the other match, Eastern and Kitchee were resuming hostilities just three weeks after they clashed in the Senior Shield final when underdogs Eastern clinched the silverware with a 3-1 victory at Hong Kong Stadium.
But it was a much more even contest this time.
Goran Stankovski opened the scoring for Kitchee in the 14th minute but Fabio Alcantara hit an equaliser for Eastern with two minutes to go in the first half.
Yesterday's results mean Sun Hei are third in the league standings with 16 points from 11 matches, one point behind second-placed WoFoo Tai Po, who will meet Happy Valley today at Mong Kok Stadium.
The other match in today's double header features Citizen and Bulova Rangers.
