2018–19 Hong Kong Sapling Cup

The 2018–19 Hong Kong Sapling Cup was the 4th edition of the Sapling Cup, and was the first time in history without name sponsorship. The Cup was contested by the 10 teams in the 2018–19 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 two players born on or after 1 January 1997 (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]

2018–19 Hong Kong Sapling Cup
Country Hong Kong
China
Dates24 November 2018 – 27 April 2019
Teams10
Defending championsKitchee
ChampionsLee Man (1st title)
Runners-upYuen Long
Matches played23
Goals scored90 (3.91 per match)
Attendance15,180 (660 per match)
Top goal scorer(s)Fran González
(6 goals)
2019–20 →
All statistics correct as of 19 May 2019.

Kitchee were the defending champions, but they were eliminated after failing to get out of group stage. Lee Man became the champions for the first time after beating Yuen Long in the final. This is also Lee Man's first title in club history.

Calendar
PhaseRoundDraw DateDateMatchesClubs
Group stage Matchday 1 5 November 2018 24–25 November 2018 20 10 → 4
Matchday 2 16, 30 December 2018
1 January 2019
Matchday 3 2–3 February 2019
Matchday 4 10–11 February 2019
Matchday 5 2–3 March 2019
Knockout phase Semi-finals 13 – 14 April 2018 2 4 → 2
Final 27 April 2018 at Mong Kok Stadium 1 2 → 1

Group stage

Group A
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 Yuen Long 4 3 0 1 10 7 +3 9 Advance to Semi-finals
2 Dreams FC 4 2 1 1 5 5 0 7
3 R&F 4 2 1 1 6 4 +2 7
4 Tai Po 4 1 0 3 5 8 −3 3
5 Eastern AA 4 0 2 2 4 6 −2 2
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.
Tai Po1–2Dreams FC
 Report
Attendance: 559
Referee: Liu Kwok Man
R&F 1–1Eastern AA
 Report
Attendance: 484
Referee: Tong Kui Sum
Eastern AA1–2Tai Po
 Report
Attendance: 557
Referee: Tong Kui Sum
Yuen Long1–2 R&F
 Report
Attendance: 669
Referee: Wong Wai Lun
R&F 0–1Dreams FC
Report
Attendance: 473
Referee: Lau Fong Hei
Eastern AA2–3Yuen Long
 Report
Attendance: 675
Referee: Ho Wai Sing
Yuen Long2–1Tai Po
 Report
Attendance: 663
Referee: Tang Hing Fu
Dreams FC0–0Eastern AA
Report
Attendance: 335
Referee: Law Bik Chi
Tai Po1–3 R&F
 Report
Attendance: 301
Referee: Law Bik Chi
Dreams FC2–4Yuen Long
 Report
Attendance: 629
Referee: Lau Fong Hei

Group B
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 Lee Man 4 3 0 1 13 7 +6 9 Advance to Semi-finals
2 HK Pegasus 4 3 0 1 10 7 +3 9
3 Southern 4 2 1 1 8 6 +2 7
4 Kitchee 4 1 1 2 10 7 +3 4
5 Hoi King 4 0 0 4 4 18 −14 0
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.
HK Pegasus4–2Hoi King
 Report
Attendance: 287
Referee: Tang Hing Fu
Southern1–1Kitchee
 Report
Attendance: 616
Referee: Tam Ping Wun
Hoi King0–5Kitchee
Report
Attendance: 574
Referee: Law Bik Chi
HK Pegasus0–2Lee Man
Report
Attendance: 666
Referee: Tang Hing Fu
Kitchee2–3HK Pegasus
 Report
Attendance: 678
Referee: Tam Ping Wun
Lee Man2–3Southern
 Report
Attendance: 429
Referee: Liu Kwok Man
Hoi King2–6Lee Man
 Report
Attendance: 327
Referee: Wong Wai Lun
HK Pegasus3–1Southern
 Report
Attendance: 357
Referee: Yu Kin Fung
Southern3–0Hoi King
 Report
Attendance: 629
Referee: Wong Kei Hoi
Lee Man3–2Kitchee
 Report
Attendance: 711
Referee: Ng Chiu Kok

Semi-finals

The two semi-finals took place on 13–14 April 2019 at Mong Kok Stadium. [2]

Best Union Yuen Long3–2Hong Kong Pegasus
 Report
Attendance: 857
Referee: Liu Kwok Man
Lee Man4–1Dreams
 Report
Attendance: 1,019
Referee: Ng Chiu Kok

Final

The final took place on 27 April 2019 at Mong Kok Stadium.[2]

Best Union Yuen Long2–3 (a.e.t.)Lee Man
 Report
Attendance: 2,685
Referee: Ho Wai Sing

Top scorers


Rank Player Club Goals[3]
1 Fran González Lee Man 6
2 Travis Major Pegasus 5
3 Jean Moser Yuen Long 4
4 Leong Ka Hang Lee Man 3
Nikola Komazec Southern
Cleiton Yuen Long
Stefan Lee Man
Mahama Awal Pegasus

References
  1. 「2018-19年度菁英盃」賽程公佈 (in Chinese), Hong Kong Football Association, 5 November 2018, retrieved 5 November 2018
  2. 菁英盃 (in Chinese), Hong Kong Football Association, 13 April 2019, retrieved 27 April 2019
  3. 菁英盃 射手榜 (in Chinese), Hong Kong Football Association, retrieved 28 May 2019
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