AFC Champions League: Hong Kong’s Lee Man crash to painful loss in Singapore
City’s domestic champions bottom of group following second straight defeat, as they throw away lead against Tampines Rovers
Lee Man squandered an early advantage to lose 3-1 to Tampines Rovers on another desperate AFC Champions League Two night for the Hong Kong champions.
Li Ngai-hoi opened the scoring after four minutes to cap a bright opening for the visitors in Singapore. They spurned chances to add to their lead, before an equaliser for Tampines directly before half-time completely altered the complexion of the game.
The home team scored twice in the second half and with more composure would have inflicted greater damage on their dispirited opponents.
Lee Man began like a team eager to atone for an error-strewn display when they lost their opening Group G match against Nam Dinh a fortnight ago.
And if Li’s goal was the result of some good fortune, the defender earned his luck. Li was fast out of the blocks to leave marker Syahrul Sazali standing when Everton Camargo swung over a free-kick from deep on the left.
The ball skipped off the artificial turf and struck Li’s knee, before deflecting into the chest of Sazali with enough force to carry it beyond scrambling goalkeeper Sayazwan Buhari.
