2019–20 Hong Kong Sapling Cup
Football tournament season
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The 2019–20 Hong Kong Sapling Cup was the 5th edition of the Hong Kong Sapling Cup, and was the second time in history without name sponsorship. The Cup was contested by the 10 teams in the 2019–20 Hong Kong Premier League. The objective of the Cup was to create more potential playing opportunities for youth players. Each team were required to field a minimum of three players born on or after 1 January 1998 (U-22) and a maximum of six foreign players during every whole match, with no more than four foreign players on the pitch at the same time. [1]
| Tournament details | |
|---|---|
| Country | Hong Kong China |
| Dates | 18 September 2019 – 27 September 2020 |
| Teams | 10 |
| Final positions | |
| Champions | Kitchee (2nd title) |
| Runners-up | Southern |
| Tournament statistics | |
| Matches played | 41 |
| Goals scored | 160 (3.9 per match) |
| Top goal scorer(s) | Manuel Gavilán (7 goals) |
| Awards | |
| Best player | Shinichi Chan |
All statistics correct as of 27 September 2020. | |
Lee Man were the defending champions, but were eliminated after failing to progress further from group stage. Kitchee became the champions for the second time after beating Southern in the final.
Calendar
| Phase | Round | Draw Date | Date | Matches | Clubs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Group stage | Matchday 1 | 11 September 2019 | 18, 24 September 2019 23 October 2019 6 November 2019 |
40 | 10 → 2 |
| Matchday 2 | 22, 26–27 October 2019 | ||||
| Matchday 3 | 26–27, 29 October 2019 11 January 2020 | ||||
| Matchday 4 | 5–6, 14–15 December 2019 | ||||
| Matchday 5 | 29 December 2019 4 January 2020 | ||||
| Matchday 6 | 5 January 2020 1, 3 February 2020 | ||||
| Matchday 7 | 2, 4, 22 February 2020 | ||||
| Matchday 8 | 22–23 February 2020 3 March 2020 | ||||
| Matchday 9 | 7–8 March 2020 | ||||
| Matchday 10 | 10, 12 January 2020 14–15 March 2020 | ||||
| Knockout phase | Final | 27 September 2020 at Tseung Kwan O Sports Ground | 1 | 2 → 1 |
Group stage
Group A
Source: Hong Kong Football Association
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Head-to-head points; 3) Head-to-head goal difference; 4) Goal difference; 5) Goals scored.
(A) Advance to a further round
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Head-to-head points; 3) Head-to-head goal difference; 4) Goal difference; 5) Goals scored.
(A) Advance to a further round
| Kitchee | 2–2 | Lee Man |
|---|---|---|
Wellingsson  30'Buddle 47' |
Report | N'dri 11' Ngan Lok Fung 80' |
| Rangers | 0–1 | Kitchee |
|---|---|---|
| Report | Wellingsson 11' |
Attendance: 0[N 5]
Referee: Wong Kei Hoi
Attendance: 0[N 5]
Referee: Liu Kwok Man
Attendance: 0[N 5]
Referee: Yu Kin Fung
| Pegasus | 9–3 | Rangers |
|---|---|---|
| Awal 14', 51' Lee Oi Hin 60' Chan Siu Ki 71', 73' Sasaki 75' Chan Wai Ho 79', 84' Law Hiu Chung 90+1' (pen.) |
Report | Pereira 20', 31' Bazán 56' |
Attendance: 0[N 5]
Referee: Law Bik Chi
Attendance: 0[N 5]
Referee: Tam Ping Wun
| Kitchee | 4–0 | Pegasus |
|---|---|---|
| Wellingsson 61', 70' Bleda 72' Li Ngai Hoi 85' |
Report |
Attendance: 0[N 5]
Referee: Ng Chiu Kok
Attendance: 0[N 5]
Referee: Woo Chun Sing
| Eastern | 3–0 | Pegasus |
|---|---|---|
| Chen Hao-wei 1' Chung Wai Keung 57', 67' |
Report |
Attendance: 0[N 5]
Referee: Law Pik Chi
| Lee Man | 1–4 | Kitchee |
|---|---|---|
| Shapoval 72' (pen.) |
Report | Fernando 4', 44' Wellingsson 39' Chan Shinichi 64' |
Group B
Source: Hong Kong Football Association
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Head-to-head points; 3) Head-to-head goal difference; 4) Goal difference; 5) Goals scored.
(A) Advance to a further round
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Head-to-head points; 3) Head-to-head goal difference; 4) Goal difference; 5) Goals scored.
(A) Advance to a further round
R&F  | 0–1 | Southern |
|---|---|---|
| Report | Chan Siu Kwan 23' |
| Happy Valley | 0–3 | Yuen Long |
|---|---|---|
| Report | Fábio 20' Wang Ruei 59' Tang Tsz Kwan 84' |
| Tai Po | 3–5 | R&F |
|---|---|---|
| Sandro 11' Dudu 34'Kim Min-ki 45' |
Report | Yuen Chun Sing 30' Adriel Chan 50'Emmersón 56', 80'Déblé 90+1' |
| Southern | 1–0 | Happy Valley |
|---|---|---|
| Major 13' |
Report |
| Happy Valley | 4–2 | Tai Po |
|---|---|---|
| Gavilán 35', 78' Chu Wai Kwan 37' Van Meurs  72' (o.g.) |
Report | Ho Chun Ting 8' Kim Min-ki 53' |
| Yuen Long | 6–3 | Tai Po |
|---|---|---|
| Mikael 4', 35' Juninho 61'Santana 67', 75', 79' |
Report | Kim Min-ki 8' Hui Ka Lok 81'Chan Man Fai 87' |
| R&F | 0–1 | Happy Valley |
|---|---|---|
| Report | Luciano 90+3' |
| Tai Po | 4–4 | Happy Valley |
|---|---|---|
| Michael Luk 5', 90+2' (pen.) Ho Chun Ting 80' Nakamura 85' |
Report | Gavilán 15', 28', 36' Luciano 70' |
Attendance: 0[N 5]
Referee: Wong Ka Ho
Attendance: 0[N 5]
Referee: Ho Wai Sing
| Tai Po | 2–2 | Yuen Long |
|---|---|---|
| Juninho 40' Lai Kak Yi 57' |
Report | Mbome 71' Kim Seung-yong 88' (pen.) |
Attendance: 0[N 5]
Referee: Wong Po Sing
Attendance: 0[N 5]
Referee: Woo Chun Sing
Attendance: 0[N 5]
Referee: Poon Chun Kit
| Yuen Long | 4–3 | Happy Valley |
|---|---|---|
| Tang Tsz Kwan 15' Santana 20' Mikael 56', 87' |
Report | Wong Chi Hong 25', 32' Gavilán 45+1' (pen.) |
Attendance: 0[N 5]
Referee: Ho Wai Sing
Attendance: 0[N 5]
Referee: Woo Chun Sing
Attendance: 0[N 5]
Referee: Wong Wai Lun
Final
The final took place on 27 September 2020 at Tseung Kwan O Sports Ground.[2] [N 4] [N 5] [N 6]
| Kitchee | 3–1 | Southern |
|---|---|---|
| Matt Orr 35' (pen.) Wellingsson 65' Braunshtain 75' |
Report | Beto 44' |
Top scorers
| Rank | Player | Club | Goals[3] |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Manuel Gavilán |
Happy Valley | 7 |
| 2 |  Wellingsson |
Kitchee | 6 |
| 3 | Fernando |
Kitchee | 5 |
| Mikael |
Yuen Long | ||
 Jordi Tarrés |
Lee Man | ||
| Stefan Pereira |
Rangers | ||
 Leandro Bazán |
Rangers | ||
| 8 | Maicon Santana |
Yuen Long | 4 |
 Travis Major |
Southern | ||
 Michaël N'dri |
Lee Man | ||
| Manolo Bleda |
Kitchee | ||
 Serges Déblé |
R&F | ||
Remarks
- ^ Since Rangers violated Sapling Cup’s Competition Regulation Article 13 “A minimum of 3 local youth players (born in 1 January 1998 or after) must be fielded at any one time of a Sapling Cup match. A player being sent-off by referee (red card or two yellow cards) shall be deemed to be a player on the field.” The Disciplinary Committee of HKFA had resolved to declare a 0–3 victory for Eastern. [4]
- ^ The previously scheduled football match, which was originally held at 8:00pm, will be rescheduled due to the request made by both teams. [5]
- ^ The previously scheduled football matches in 2019-20 Sapling Cup – Hong Kong Pegasus vs Kitchee and Kwoon Chung Southern vs Best Union Yuen Long, which were originally held at 8pm on 6 December and 2:30pm on 7 December at Siu Sai Wan Sports Ground, will be rescheduled in order to accommodate the Hong Kong Representative Team to prepare for the EAFF E-1 Football Championship 2019 Final in Korea Republic. [6]
- ^ The previously scheduled football matches in 2019-20 Sapling Cup were rescheduled due to public events and transportation arrangement, and requests of clubs earlier. [7]
- ^ Further to the public health situation and temporary suspension of the venues of Leisure and Culture Services Department (LCSD), the matches of Sapling Cup will be rearranged. All matches held at Jockey Club HKFA Football Training Centre (FTC) will be played behind closed doors (Only authorized team players, staff, guests and media are allowed to enter). [8]
- ^ Regarding the remaining matches of BOC Life Hong Kong Premier League, Sapling Cup Final, FA Cup Final and Senior Shield Final, Hong Kong Football Association (HKFA) has received official confirmation from Home Affairs Bureau today that 6 participated teams would be allowed to resume the remaining matches under required hygiene measures. [9]