The 2020–21 Hong Kong Sapling Cup is the 6th edition of the Sapling Cup, and is the third time in history without name sponsorship. The competition is contested by the 8 teams in the 2020–21 Hong Kong Premier League. Each team is required to field a minimum of three players born on or after 1 January 1999 (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.
| Tournament details | |
|---|---|
| Country | Hong Kong |
| Dates | 24 October 2020 – 7 April 2021 |
| Teams | 8 |
| Final positions | |
| Champions | Eastern (1st title) |
| Runner-up | Happy Valley |
| Tournament statistics | |
| Matches played | 26 |
| Goals scored | 81 (3.12 per match) |
| Top goal scorer(s) | Sandro Matt Orr (8 goals) |
| Best player | Eduardo Praes |
| All statistics correct as of 7 April 2021. | |
Kitchee are the defending champions, but were eliminated in the semi-finals. Eastern became the champions for the first time after beating Happy Valley in the final.
Calendar edit
| Phase | Round | Draw Date | Date | Matches | Clubs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Group stage | Matchday 1 | 20 October 2020[1] | 24–25 October 2020 | 24 | 8 → 4 |
| Matchday 2 | 28, 31 October 2020 11 November 2020 | ||||
| Matchday 3 | 1, 4, 18 November 2020 | ||||
| Matchday 4 | 7–8 November 2020 | ||||
| Matchday 5 | 14–15 November 2020 | ||||
| Matchday 6 | 20–21 February 2021 | ||||
| Knockout phase | Semi-finals | 24 February 2021 | 2 | 4 → 2 | |
| Final | 7 April 2021 at Mong Kok Stadium | 1 | 2 → 1 |
Group stage edit
Group A edit
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lee Man | 6 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 11 | 2 | +9 | 12 | Advance to Semi-finals |
| 2 | Kitchee | 6 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 11 | 4 | +7 | 12 | |
| 3 | Pegasus | 6 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 8 | 14 | −6 | 7 | |
| 4 | Rangers | 6 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 6 | 16 | −10 | 1 |
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.
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Head-to-head points; 3) Head-to-head goal difference; 4) Goal difference; 5) Goals scored.
| 25 October 2020 MD1 | Pegasus | 0–5 | Lee Man | Sham Shui Po, Kowloon |
| 15:00 | Report | Chang Hei Yin  26' Acosta 29', 30' Leong Ka Hang 39' Tang Hong Yin 44' |
Stadium: Sham Shui Po Sports Ground Attendance: 0[N 1] Referee: Tam Ping Wun |
| 25 October 2020 MD1 | Kitchee | 3–0 | Rangers | Yuen Long, New Territories |
| 17:30 | Orr 6', 31', 58' |
Report | Stadium: Yuen Long Stadium Attendance: 0[N 1] Referee: Wong Wai Lun |
| 31 October 2020 MD2 | Lee Man | 0–0 | Kitchee | Diamond Hill, Kowloon |
| 15:00 | Report | Stadium: Hammer Hill Road Sports Ground Attendance: 0[N 1] Referee: Ng Chiu Kok |
| 31 October 2020 MD2 | Rangers | 0–2 | Pegasus | Siu Sai Wan, Hong Kong Island |
| 17:30 | Report | Wu Chun Ming 49' Chan Hiu Fung 62' |
Stadium: Siu Sai Wan Sports Ground Attendance: 0[N 1] Referee: Liu Kwok Man |
| 4 November 2020 MD3 | Pegasus | 0–0 | Kitchee | Mong Kok, Kowloon |
| 20:00 | Report | Stadium: Mong Kok Stadium Attendance: 0[N 1] Referee: Tam Ping Wun |
| 8 November 2020 MD4 | Lee Man | 4–1 | Pegasus | Yuen Long, New Territories |
| 15:00 | Tang Hong Yin 49' Leong Ka Hang 78', 90' Wong Ho Chun 90+1' |
Report | Tse Long Hin 75' (pen.) |
Stadium: Yuen Long Stadium Attendance: 394 Referee: Lau Fong Hei |
| 8 November 2020 MD4 | Rangers | 3–5 | Kitchee | Mong Kok, Kowloon |
| 17:30 | Juninho 4' Lam Ka Wai 12' Lam Hok Hei 67' |
Report | Orr 29', 45', 51' Buddle 54' Gavilán 78' (pen.) |
Stadium: Mong Kok Stadium Attendance: 694 Referee: Law Bik Chi |
| 14 November 2020 MD5 | Pegasus | 4–2 | Rangers | Aberdeen, Hong Kong Island |
| 15:00 | Júnior 7', 13' Nilson 19' Ng Man Hei 81' |
Report | Lam Hok Hei 67' Kilama 87' |
Stadium: Aberdeen Sports Ground Attendance: 134 Referee: Liu Kwok Man |
| 14 November 2020 MD5 | Kitchee | 0–0 | Lee Man | Tsing Yi, New Territories |
| 17:30 | Report | Stadium: Tsing Yi Sports Ground Attendance: 654 Referee: Lau Fong Hei |
| 18 November 2020 MD3 | Rangers | 1–1 | Lee Man | Mong Kok, Kowloon |
| 20:00 | Lam Hok Hei 90+2' |
Report | Leong Ka Hang 55' |
Stadium: Mong Kok Stadium Attendance: 453 Referee: Poon Chun Kit |
| 20 February 2021 MD6 | Kitchee | 3–1 | Pegasus | Mong Kok, Kowloon |
| 19:00 | Orr 8', 57' Hélio 84' |
Report | Marquinhos 39' |
Stadium: Mong Kok Stadium Attendance: 1,191 Referee: Woo Chun Sing |
| 21 February 2021 MD6 | Lee Man | 1–0 | Rangers | Mong Kok, Kowloon |
| 19:00 | N'dri 23' |
Report | Stadium: Mong Kok Stadium Attendance: 520 Referee: Wong Ka Ho |
Group B edit
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Eastern | 6 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 17 | 7 | +10 | 13 | Advance to Semi-finals |
| 2 | Happy Valley | 6 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 12 | 4 | +8 | 13 | |
| 3 | Southern | 6 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 8 | 12 | −4 | 6 | |
| 4 | Resources Capital | 6 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 5 | 19 | −14 | 1 |
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.
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Head-to-head points; 3) Head-to-head goal difference; 4) Goal difference; 5) Goals scored.
| 24 October 2020 MD1 | Southern | 3–2 | Resources Capital | Mong Kok, Kowloon |
| 15:00 | Chan Kwong Ho 50', 57' Beto 90+2' |
Report | Sá 5', 64' |
Stadium: Mong Kok Stadium Attendance: 0[N 1] Referee: Ho Wai Sing |
| 24 October 2020 MD1 | Eastern | 1–2 | Happy Valley | Siu Sai Wan, Hong Kong Island |
| 17:30 | Sandro 80' |
Report | Yip Cheuk Man 90+1' Luciano 90+3' |
Stadium: Siu Sai Wan Sports Ground Attendance: 0[N 1] Referee: Lau Fong Hei |
| 28 October 2020 MD2 | Eastern | 5–0 | Resources Capital | Mong Kok, Kowloon |
| 20:00 | Everton 33', 59', 90+2' Khan 80', 83' |
Report | Stadium: Mong Kok Stadium Attendance: 0[N 1] Referee: Woo Chun Sing |
| 1 November 2020 MD3 | Southern | 1–4 | Eastern | Tai Po, New Territories |
| 15:00 | Pereira 6' (pen.) |
Report | Sandro 43', 55' Everton 52' Leung Kwun Chung 66' |
Stadium: Tai Po Sports Ground Attendance: 0[N 1] Referee: Luk Kin Sun |
| 1 November 2020 MD3 | Happy Valley | 2–0 | Resources Capital | Mong Kok, Kowloon |
| 17:30 | Luciano 77' Moore 90+4' |
Report | Stadium: Mong Kok Stadium Attendance: 0[N 1] Referee: Yu Kin Fung |
| 7 November 2020 MD4 | Resources Capital | 1–1 | Southern | Yuen Long, New Territories |
| 15:00 | Wong Wai Kwok 18' |
Report | James Ha 11' |
Stadium: Yuen Long Stadium Attendance: 235 Referee: Tang Hing Fu |
| 7 November 2020 MD4 | Happy Valley | 0–2 | Eastern | Mong Kok, Kowloon |
| 17:30 | Report | Sandro 11' (pen.) Lucas 37' |
Stadium: Mong Kok Stadium Attendance: 850 Referee: Wong Ka Ho |
| 11 November 2020 MD2 | Happy Valley | 0–0 | Southern | Mong Kok, Kowloon |
| 20:00 | Report | Stadium: Mong Kok Stadium Attendance: 463 Referee: Wong Kei Hoi |
| 15 November 2020 MD5 | Resources Capital | 1–6 | Happy Valley | Diamond Hill, Kowloon |
| 15:00 | Tena 90+3' |
Report | Mikael 24' (pen.), 55', 70' Odu 40', 45+1', 59' |
Stadium: Hammer Hill Road Sports Ground Attendance: 464 Referee: Luk Kin Sun |
| 15 November 2020 MD5 | Eastern | 3–3 | Southern | Mong Kok, Kowloon |
| 17:30 | Lucas 37' Sandro 70' Diego 90+1' |
Report | Sasaki 54' (pen.) Beto 89' Stefan 90+4' |
Stadium: Mong Kok Stadium Attendance: 754 Referee: Woo Chun Sing |
| 20 February 2021 MD6 | Southern | 0–2 | Happy Valley | Siu Sai Wan, Hong Kong Island |
| 15:00 | Report | Luciano 32' Chu Wai Kwan 58' |
Stadium: Siu Sai Wan Sports Ground Attendance: 349 Referee: Wong Wai Lun |
| 21 February 2021 MD6 | Resources Capital | 1–2 | Eastern | Siu Sai Wan, Hong Kong Island |
| 15:00 | Law Chun Yan 9' |
Report | Sandro 13', 22' |
Stadium: Siu Sai Wan Sports Ground Attendance: 303 Referee: Yu Kin Fung |
Semi-finals edit
The semi-final took place on 24 February 2021 at Mong Kok Stadium.
| 24 February 2021 SF | Lee Man | w/o | Happy Valley | Mong Kok, Kowloon |
| 19:00 | Report | Stadium: Mong Kok Stadium |
Final edit
The final took place on 7 April 2021 at Mong Kok Stadium.
| 7 April 2021 F | Happy Valley | 0–2 | Eastern | Mong Kok, Kowloon |
| 20:00 | Report | Eduardo 38' Lum 81' |
Stadium: Mong Kok Stadium Attendance: 2,243 Referee: Wong Wai Lun |
Top scorers edit
| Rank | Player | Club | Goals[2] |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Matt Orr
|
Kitchee | 8 |
| Sandro
|
Eastern | ||
| 3 |  Everton
|
Eastern | 4 |
 Leong Ka Hang
|
Lee Man | ||
| 5 | Mikael
|
Happy Valley | 3 |
 Robert Odu
|
Happy Valley | ||
| Lam Hok Hei
|
Rangers | ||
| Luciano
|
Happy Valley | ||
| 8 | Chan Kwong Ho
|
Southern | 2 |
| Felipe Sá
|
Resources Capital | ||
 Jonathan Acosta
|
Lee Man | ||
| Tang Hong Yin
|
Lee Man | ||
| Naveed Khan
|
Eastern | ||
| Júnior Goiano
|
Pegasus | ||
| Lucas Silva
|
Eastern | ||
| Beto Fronza
|
Southern |
Remarks edit
- ^ Match was played behind closed doors due to the 2020 coronavirus pandemic in Hong Kong.
References edit
- ^ Arrangement of 2020-2021 BOC Life Hong Kong Premier League and Sapling Cup HKFA 20 October 2020
- ^ Shooter HKFA 25 October 2020