appConfigEntityId

bodyType

customContents

entityId

entityUuid

isVideo

articlePageQuery

article

articleSchemaContent

content

hooksArticlePageAdvertisementConfigArticle

hooksArticlePageFloatingButtonConfigArticle

appConfig

filter

json

liveArticle

Andrew Cesare Richardson

BC Rangers reached a second FA Cup final in three seasons by beating Hong Kong Football Club 4-1 at Mong Kok Stadium on Saturday.
They were in full control of their semi-final by half-time thanks to a trio of similarly worked goals as their game plan of playing through Football’s Club high line paid off, with Lau Chi-lok, Li Wing-ho and Maxwell Ansah the scorers.
HKFC replied after the interval through Leo, but Guilherme Biteco completed their miserable afternoon with a sublime fourth.
Rangers will face the winner of Sunday’s second semi-final between Eastern and Tai Po on May 31, and man-of-the-match Biteco was hoping for the former – otherwise the terms of his loan from Tai Po will prevent him playing.
The Brazilian said: “My heart is split in two because I love Tai Po, but now I’m a Rangers player. I’m not going to say I hope they lose, but let’s see. If I can play, I play. If not, I’ll be cheering the team on.”

It has been a dismal Premier League campaign for both sides, with Football Club rooted to the bottom of the table and Rangers only a place better off, but this was an opportunity for one of them to potentially enjoy a happy end to the season.
Rangers were denied that pleasure two years ago when they were routed 7-1 in the final by Kitchee, but they were unburdened by their pre-match favourites tag on Saturday as they took control from minute one.
Forward Lau opened the scoring on 16 minutes when he caught Football Club goalkeeper Li Yat-chun off his line and expertly lobbed into the far corner.
Goals two and three were almost carbon copies of one another. Li Wing-ho found himself through on goal just past the half-hour mark and kept his cool to fire low into the net.
Defender Ansah, who had gone close to opening the scoring with a header from a corner inside a minute, added the third in first-half stoppage time.
Biteco said the manner of the goals showed Rangers had been able to execute their pre-match plan to perfection.
“We worked on attacking the space, we knew their defensive line would push up,” he said. “So either myself or another winger would attack.
“I think we prepared well and scored three times in the first half.”
Football Club pulled one back through Leo on 53 minutes as he slid in at the far post after a goalmouth scramble. He was initially given offside, but following a VAR check of almost six minutes, referee Poon Chun-kit pointed to the centre spot.
However, any hope of a comeback was soon extinguished, Rangers extending their lead four minutes later in exquisite fashion as their two Brazilian wingers combined to devastating effect. Luizinho played a perfect pass along the ground which Biteco curled first time into the top corner.
“I worked closely with Luizinho all week, so it was nice to see it work out well in that way,” Biteco said.

Luizinho was a menace all game for Rangers, having a hand in two goals even if he did not manage to claim one for himself.
“I’m really happy with the team’s performance,” he said. “I wanted to score but I’m happy with the two assists.”
Football Club’s day was summed up on 74 minutes when Chen Hao won a duel against Rangers goalkeeper Kun Sun-chan but, 10 yards out and faced with an open goal, hit a post.


James Scott, Scotland star who once ‘infuriated’ Celtic, out to reboot career in Hong Kong

Hong Kong Football Club’s faith in ‘world-class’ ex-Premier League coach to inspire upturn

Hong Kong Premier League: Kitchee to fend off Lee Man and rule again, shock relegation tip

Pop star glamour and plans to ‘unite Sha Tin’: the newcomers shaking up Hong Kong football

Hong Kong Premier League

Hong Kong FA Cup semi-finals: rampant Rangers back in showpiece with dominant win

Rangers players (left) celebrate after Li Wing-ho scored their second. Photo: Elson Li

Li Wing-ho (right) scores BC Rangers’ second in their semi-final victory. Photo: Elson Li

Rangers’ Maxwell Ansah (centre, in blue) rises highest to win a header on Saturday. Photo: Elson Li

Fantasy Premier League: here’s my tip for the best possible team for Double Gameweek 33

Manchester City’s Omar Marmoush celebrates scoring their second goal against Crystal Palace last week. The Egyptian is a good contender  for fantasy team captain. Photo: Reuters

Aston Villa’s Morgan Rogers (left) is likely to play 180 minutes in Double Gameweek 33. Photo: dpa

Lars’ Double Gameweek 33 line-up, which contains only one non-Double Gameweek player. 

Eastern’s Aleksandar Mitrovic expects ‘war’ with Tai Po in Hong Kong FA Cup semi-final

Aleksandar Mitrovic (centre) celebrates his first Eastern goal with teammates Noah Baffoe (left) and Nii Noye Narh. Photo: Eastern SC

Aleksandar Mitrovic said he loved Eastern’s playing style. Photo: Instagram/mitrovic_4_

Sport

Football

Rangers reach the final for second time in three seasons and will face either Tai Po or Eastern on May 31


Rangers reach the final for second time in three seasons and will face either Tai Po or Eastern on May 31.


Hong Kong FA Cup semi-finals: rampant Rangers back in showpiece with dominant win

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Rangers reach the final for second time in three seasons and will face either Tai Po or Eastern on May 31

Rangers reach the final for second time in three seasons and will face either Tai Po or Eastern on May 31