Lunar New Year Cup: impressive Hong Kong hang on to claim third place with win over Auckland City

A Hong Kong league select XI claimed third place in the Lunar New Year Cup at Hong Kong Stadium on Thursday with an impressive 1-0 win against New Zealand league champions Auckland City in the best game of the mini tournament so far.

Pegasus midfielder Awal Mahama scored the only goal of an entertaining encounter on 40 minutes, just 30 seconds after Zhang Chunhui delighted the home crowd by saving Fabrizio Tavano’s penalty kick at the other end.

Hong Kong had multiple chances to add to the scoreline with the impressive Fernando Augusto, of Hong Kong champions Kitchee, a constant threat to the Kiwi defence.

In the end, a third game in six days told on Auckland City and despite a few good opportunities to level the score, Hong Kong held on to claim the win in front of an enthusiastic So Kon Po crowd.

“We played pretty well considering the circumstances,” said Ramon Tribulietx, the Auckland City manager. “If we had scored the penalty, it would have been very different.

“We created quite a few chances in the first half and three clear ones in the second, and we’re very proud of the game we played considering the circumstances.