Yuen Long ended their season on a high as Park Chan Jong picked up his third goal of the season to assure a 2-1 victory over fellow league strugglers Dreams, who finished the season just a point ahead of the hosts after a promising start to the season.
Neither team played with much intensity or desire in the first half, but Dreams looked slightly the better team and were unlucky not to go ahead in the first half after several missed opportunities from Lau Hok Min and Fukuda.
It was Fukuda, appearing in his final game for the club, who had the best chance of the first half when Yiu Ho Ming skilfully dribbled round 3 defenders on the left wing and unleashed a shot that came off the back post and across the face of goal at an angle, but the Japanese veteran couldn’t get above the ball as he knocked it over the crossbar.
Yuen Long were gifted with the opening goal early on in the second half when captain Yip Tsz Cun headed the ball back across the face of goal, and Da Silva had the easy job of poking the ball into the back of the net to put the Tangerines 1:0 up.
And it wasn’t long after that Yip Tsz Cun grabbed his second assist of the game, drifting in a corner towards the front post where Park Chan Jong ran in to flick a header towards goal that was too fast for Dreams goalkeeper Pang Tsz Kin, who could do nothing but palm the ball into the roof of the net.
Dreams were certainly not looking to end their season on a sour note and bombarded the Yuen Long back four, but their defensive line sat low on the pitch and seamlessly dealt with any danger in the box.
Dreams finally managed a break through in the 70’ minute when Brazilian playmaker Damasceno dribbled through the defence before passing the ball towards Yiu Ho ming on the edge of the box who spectacularly finessed the ball into the top right corner to reduce the deficit to 1 goal.
Yuen Long almost grabbed their third goal of the match in the last 10 minutes after several counter-attacking moves but failed to take advantage. Nevertheless, a 2-1 victory was enough to make sure that their season ended on a positive with one eye on the FA Cup final in a weeks time.
The New Territories-based side also showed why they have some of the most loyal fans in the league, with people of all ages coming to watch the match and staying on afterwards to meet the players. Yuen Long will be looking to make history next Sunday as they take on Pegasus in a surprise FA Cup final lineup at Hong Kong Stadium.
(Yuen Long goalscorers: Da Silva 53′; Park Chan Jong 63′)
(Dreams goalscorers: Yiu Ho Ming 70′)
DATE: 7th May, 2016
STADIUM: Yuen Long Stadium
ATTENDANCE: 756
