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Jonathan White

Hong Kong Premier League side Lee Man made history with a second win in their second game in the AFC Cup and progress to the play-off round to ensure a dream start to life in the competition.
The new boys to continental competition go through as group winners after following up an opening game win over domestic rivals Eastern with a hammering of Taiwanese side Tainan City at Tseung Kwan O Sports Ground.
Chan Hiu-ming’s team were fastest out of the blocks in their evening kick-off, racing to a 3-0 lead after just 11 minutes.
The goals came in a four-minute spell with striker from Jose Angel, Jonatan Acosta and Kim Seung-yong putting them in control.

FT | Lee Man 4-1 Tainan City FC
They've done it! Two wins from two and the Hong Kong side are off to the #AFCCup Knockout Stage as Group J Winners!#AFCCup2021 | #LMCvTAI pic.twitter.com/4MYaISGkvs
— #AFCCup2021 (@AFCCup) June 26, 2021

“Our team started really well with a strong fighting spirit and really positive energy,” Chan said. “That’s why in the first 10 minutes we already scored three.”
It remained 3-0 at the half with Lee Man taking their foot of the gas after the interval. Tainan scored a consolation through Benchy Estama before Lee Man’s Yuto Nakamura added a fourth goal for the hosts.
How to watch Hong Kong’s teams in AFC Cup and Champions League
Coach Chan said that the team did not keep up their performance in the second half because of their condition still not being optimal.
“The second half we played slower, the reason why is honestly because we are not in the best condition.”
He put that down to the quarantine conditions of the AFC Cup bubble in Hong Kong.
“We wanted four and five but a win is a win, the most important thing,” Chan added. “We’ve qualified and this is the perfect result.”

It's been a perfect first half for Lee Man who have one foot in the #AFCCup Knockout Stage.
Can they keep it up after the break?#AFCCup2021 | #LMCvTAI pic.twitter.com/45qvuCeHq4
— #AFCCup2021 (@AFCCup) June 26, 2021

No matter what happens in Tuesday’s final games – where Lee Man take on the winless Mongolians Athletic 220 – they are already through.
Even if Eastern beat Tainan City at Hong Kong Stadium, Lee Man have already progressed on their head-to-head record, making goal difference irrelevant.
Eastern laboured to a 1-0 win over Athletic 220 at So Kon Po earlier in the day, with the winner coming from Lee Ka-yiu 10 minutes into the second half.
AFC Cup: Lee Man make history to leave Eastern on brink
They face the Taiwan Premier League side on Tuesday at 8pm, the same time that Lee Man take on Athletic 220.
Group winners Lee Man will play their Inter-zone play-off semi-final in September, with their opponents yet to be determined.
The Hong Kong team could face the winners of the South Asia Zone (group D), the winners of the Central Asia Zonal final or the winners of Asean Zonal final.


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AFC Cup: Hong Kong international Wu apologises after blowing chance to send Eastern into inter-zone final

AFC Cup: late Shakhruz Norkhonov header downs Eastern Long Lions, sends PFC Sogdiana into inter-zone final

AFC Cup: call of the East lured defender Kozubaev to Hong Kong club’s cause

AFC Cup

AFC Cup: Lee Man through to next round after ‘perfect result’ against Tainan City

Hong Kong Premier League side Lee Man captain Fernando Recio challenges Benchy Estama of Taiwan's Tainan City in the AFC Cup at Tseung Kwan O Sports Ground. Photo: HKFA

Kitchee’s Dejan Damjanovic levels AFC Champions League record in win over Port FC

Kitchee fans watch their team in the AFC Champions League in 2018. Photo: Jonathan Wong

AFC Cup: Lee Man make history to leave Eastern needing help

Lee Man’s Ngan Lok-fung and Eastern’s ’ Wong Wai battle it out during the AFC Cup at Hong Kong Stadium. Photo: K.Y. Cheng

Lee Man’s in action with Eastern Long during the AFC Cup 2021 at the Hong Kong Stadium. 23JUN21 SCMP / K. Y. Cheng

Lee Man’s Acosta Jonatan (no.10) in action with Eastern Long Lions’ Jared Lum (no.22)during the AFC Cup 2021 at the Hong Kong Stadium. 23JUN21 SCMP / K. Y. Cheng

How to watch Hong Kong’s teams in AFC Cup and Champions League – Now E, Now Sports 3 schedule, fixtures, tickets

Eastern’s Clayton dribbles away from Lee Man’s Manu Bleda in a Hong Kong Premier League clash. Photo: HKFA

Shanghai Port out of AFC Champions League as Kaya make history

Chinese Super League side Shanghai Port, formerly known as Shanghai SIPG, have missed out on the AFC Champions League group stage.

Government gives fans green light to attend next week’s AFC Cup group matches

The lower level of Hong Kong Stadium will be closed off for next week’s AFC Cup to avoid any possible contact between the fans and players. Photo: Winson Wong

2021 AFC Cup draws of group D and J. Eastern Long Lions and Lee Man of Hong Kong are in the same group as only four teams in the region.

Spectator stands at Tseung Kwan O Sports Ground are already separated from the playing venue. Photo: Felix Wong

Sport

Football

Hong Kong


Fast start sees continental new boys race into 3-0 lead after just 11 minutes against Taiwanese side at Tseung Kwan O
Rivals Eastern labour to 1-0 win over Mongolia’s Athletic 220 but Tuesday’s final matches moot on head-to-head record



Fast start sees continental new boys race into 3-0 lead after just 11 minutes against Taiwan’s Tainan City at Tseung Kwan O as head-to-head record takes debutants to semi-finals.


Asian Football Confederation (AFC)

Hong Kong Premier League

The Football Association of Hong Kong, China

AFC Cup: Lee Man through to next round after ‘perfect result’ against Tainan City

Fast start sees continental new boys race into 3-0 lead after just 11 minutes against Taiwanese side at Tseung Kwan O Rivals Eastern labour to 1-0 win over Mongolia’s Athletic 220 but Tuesday’s final matches moot on head-to-head record

Fast start sees continental new boys race into 3-0 lead after just 11 minutes against Taiwanese side at Tseung Kwan O

Rivals Eastern labour to 1-0 win over Mongolia’s Athletic 220 but Tuesday’s final matches moot on head-to-head record