The 2021–22 Hong Kong Sapling Cup is the 7th edition of the Sapling Cup, and is the fourth time in history without name sponsorship. The competition is contested by the 8 teams in the 2021–22 Hong Kong Premier League. Each team is required to field a minimum of three players born on or after 1 January 2000 (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 | 18 September 2021 – 8 May 2022 |
| Teams | 8 |
| Defending champions | Eastern |
| Final positions | |
| Champions | None |
| Runner-up | None |
| Tournament statistics | |
| Matches played | 33 |
| Goals scored | 111 (3.36 per match) |
| All statistics correct as of 5 January 2022. | |
Eastern are the defending champions.
Format edit
Different from last season, the 2021–22 Sapling Cup is based on a system of double round league.[1] The team with the highest points will be the champions.
Effects of the COVID-19 pandemic edit
On 5 January 2022, the Hong Kong government announced a tightening of social distancing measures between 7 January to 20 January in order to control the Omicron outbreak.[2] Public recreation facilities, such as football pitches, were closed and members of the public were barred from gathering in groups of more than two, making it impossible for the season to continue. The Hong Kong Football Association announced on the same day that it would also postpone any scheduled matches in the successive two week period.
After the measures were extended several times in the successive weeks, the government announced on 22 February that it would extend the measures until 20 April, making it near impossible to complete the season before most player contracts end on 31 May.[3] The HKFA held an emergency meeting with the clubs on 25 February, after which it was determined that the remainder of the season would be cancelled.[4]
League table edit
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Eastern | 9 | 6 | 3 | 0 | 25 | 7 | +18 | 21 |
| 2 | Kitchee | 9 | 6 | 1 | 2 | 21 | 12 | +9 | 19 |
| 3 | Southern | 9 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 14 | 10 | +4 | 18 |
| 4 | Lee Man | 7 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 16 | 6 | +10 | 16 |
| 5 | Rangers | 8 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 11 | 15 | −4 | 8 |
| 6 | Resources Capital | 9 | 1 | 3 | 5 | 12 | 17 | −5 | 6 |
| 7 | HK U23 | 7 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 6 | 21 | −15 | 4 |
| 8 | HKFC | 8 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 6 | 23 | −17 | 0 |
Updated to match(es) played on 5 January 2022. Source: Hong Kong Football Association
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Head-to-head points; 3) Head-to-head goal difference; 4) Head-to-head goals scored; 5) Goal difference; 6) Goals scored; 7) Fair-play points; 8) Drawing lots (Play-off if the winner has to be decided).
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Head-to-head points; 3) Head-to-head goal difference; 4) Head-to-head goals scored; 5) Goal difference; 6) Goals scored; 7) Fair-play points; 8) Drawing lots (Play-off if the winner has to be decided).
Results edit
Fixtures and results edit
| 18 September 2021 SP01 | Eastern | 2–0 | Rangers | Tseung Kwan O, New Territories |
| 15:30 | Sun Ming Him  47' Fung Hing Wa 81' |
Report | Stadium: Tseung Kwan O Sports Ground Attendance: 573 Referee: Yu Kin Fung |
| 18 September 2021 SP02 | Lee Man | 3–0 | Kitchee | Siu Sai Wan, Hong Kong Island |
| 18:00 | Ángel 41' (pen.) Gil 79' Tsui Wang Kit 90+3' |
Report | Stadium: Siu Sai Wan Sports Ground Attendance: 472 Referee: Tam Ping Wun |
| 19 September 2021 SP03 | HKFC | 1–2 | Southern | Tsing Yi, New Territories |
| 15:00 | Scott 1' |
Report | Ha 25' Dudu 90+4' |
Stadium: Tsing Yi Sports Ground Attendance: 546 Referee: Liu Kwok Man |
| 22 September 2021 SP04 | Kitchee | 1–1 | Eastern | Mong Kok, Kowloon |
| 20:00 | Damjanović 17' |
Report | Naveed 51' |
Stadium: Mong Kok Stadium Attendance: 1,437 Referee: Woo Chun Sing |
| 25 September 2021 SP05 | Southern | 2–1 | Resources Capital | Tai Po, New Territories |
| 15:30 | Pereira 51' Sasaki 84' (pen.) |
Report | Ho Sze Chit 11' |
Stadium: Tai Po Sports Ground Attendance: 480 Referee: Wong Wai Lun |
| 25 September 2021 SP06 | HKFC | 1–3 | Lee Man | Mong Kok, Kowloon |
| 18:00 | Fray 80' |
Report | Nakaruma 3', 90+1' Bleda 68' |
Stadium: Mong Kok Stadium Attendance: 622 Referee: Poon Chun-kit |
| 26 September 2021 SP07 | Rangers | 0–3 | Kitchee | Aberdeen, Hong Kong |
| 15:30 | Report | Chan 67' Damjanović 86' Hélio 90+2' |
Stadium: Aberdeen Sports Ground Attendance: 515 Referee: Ho Wai Sing |
| 28 September 2021 SP08 | Lee Man | 0–0 | Southern | Mong Kok, Kowloon |
| 20:00 | Report | Stadium: Mong Kok Stadium Attendance: 811 Referee: Luk Kin Sun |
| 1 October 2021 SP09 | Resources Capital | 3–0 | HKFC | Mong Kok, Kowloon |
| 15:30 | Ho Sze Chit 1' Sá 6', 43' |
Report | Stadium: Mong Kok Stadium Attendance: 681 Referee: Lau Fong Hei |
| 1 December 2021 SP10 | Rangers | 2–0 | HK U23 | Mong Kok, Kowloon |
| 20:00 | Juninho 34' Bazán 64' |
Report | Stadium: Mong Kok Stadium Attendance: 326 Referee: Yu Kin Fung |
| 2 October 2021 SP11 | Lee Man | 1–3 | Eastern | Diamond Hill, Kowloon |
| 15:30 | Gil 63' |
Report | Clayton 13' Everton 75' Yue Tze Nam 82' |
Stadium: Hammer Hill Road Sports Ground Attendance: 892 Referee: Tam Ping Wun |
| 3 October 2021 SP12 | Kitchee | 2–0 | Southern | Tseung Kwan O, New Territories |
| 15:30 | Orr 5' Damjanović 49' |
Report | Stadium: Tseung Kwan O Sports Ground Attendance: 832 Referee: Yu Kin Fung |
| 5 October 2021 SP13 | HK U23 | 1–1 | Resources Capital | Mong Kok, Kowloon |
| 20:00 | Canal 51' (o.g.) |
Report | Canal 58' |
Stadium: Mong Kok Stadium Attendance: 919 Referee: Tang Hing Fu |
| 5 January 2022 SP14 | Resources Capital | 1–2 | Lee Man | Mong Kok, Kowloon |
| 20:00 | Sá 84' |
Report | Acosta 2' Ngan Lok Fung 12' |
Stadium: Mong Kok Stadium Attendance: 0 Referee: Wong Wai Lun |
| 10 October 2021 SP15 | Eastern | 7–0 | HK U23 | Yuen Long, New Territories |
| 15:30 | Everton 6', 37' Sun Ming Him 45+1' Ma Hei Wai 48' Marcos 57' Mikael 76' Khan 85' |
Report | Stadium: Yuen Long Stadium Attendance: 451 Referee: Law Bik Chi |
| 10 October 2021 SP16 | Rangers | 3–2 | HKFC | Tsing Yi, New Territories |
| 18:00 | Yeung Dik Lun 35' Juninho 48', 63' |
Report | Fok 45+3' Schipper 90+6' |
Stadium: Tsing Yi Sports Ground Attendance: 280 Referee: Tam Ping Wun |
| 14 October 2021 SP17 | Southern | 3–2 | HK U23 | Mong Kok, Kowloon |
| 15:30 | Pereira 21' Dudu 30' Ju Yingzhi 45+2' |
Report | Chan Yun Tung 70' Ng Man Hei 90+1' |
Stadium: Mong Kok Stadium Attendance: 722 Referee: Woo Chun Sing |
| 19 December 2021 SP18 | Rangers | 1–2 | Lee Man | Yuen Long, New Territories |
| 17:30 | Lo Kwan Yee 88' (pen.) |
Report | Wong Chun Ho 15' Bleda 45+2' |
Stadium: Yuen Long Stadium Attendance: 374 Referee: Wong Wai Lun |
| 16 October 2021 SP19 | Kitchee | 5–2 | Resources Capital | Tai Po, New Territories |
| 15:30 | Damjanović 35', 43', 78' Hélio 71' Alex 88' |
Report | Sá 4' (pen.) Ki Sze Ho 45+2' |
Stadium: Tai Po Sports Ground Attendance: 586 Referee: Luk Kin Sun |
| 17 October 2021 SP20 | Southern | 3–3 | Eastern | Tai Po, New Territories |
| 15:30 | Pereira 19', 44' Sasaki 76' (pen.) |
Report | Sun Ming Him 11', 35' Clayton 90+1' |
Stadium: Tai Po Sports Ground Attendance: 556 Referee: Wong Wai Lun |
| 17 October 2021 SP21 | HK U23 | 2–1 | HKFC | Mong Kok, Kowloon |
| 18:00 | Cheung Chun Hin 88' Law Hiu Chung 90+6' (pen.) |
Report | Harrington 45+2' |
Stadium: Mong Kok Stadium Attendance: 494 Referee: Liu Kwok Man |
| 14 November 2021 SP22 | HKFC | 0–2 | Kitchee | Siu Sai Wan, Hong Kong Island |
| 15:00 | Report | Gavilán 43' (pen.) Tong Kin Man 67' |
Stadium: Siu Sai Wan Sports Ground Attendance: 379 Referee: Law Bik Chi |
| 19 January 2022 SP23 | Lee Man | Cancelled | HK U23 | Mong Kok, Kowloon |
| 20:00 | Report | Stadium: Mong Kok Stadium |
| 20 November 2021 SP24 | Resources Capital | 3–3 | Rangers | Tai Po, New Territories |
| 15:00 | Sá 3', 71' Liu Yik Shing 24' |
Report | Kilama 62' Juninho 80', 89' |
Stadium: Tai Po Sports Ground Attendance: 272 Referee: Luk Kin Sun |
| 4 December 2021 SP25 | Eastern | 3–1 | HKFC | Tseung Kwan O, New Territories |
| 15:00 | Wong Tsz Ho 9' Powell 55' (o.g.) Khan 73' |
Report | Léo 45+2' |
Stadium: Tseung Kwan O Sports Ground Attendance: 307 Referee: Law Bik Chi |
| 11 December 2021 SP26 | Eastern | 1–1 | Resources Capital | Siu Sai Wan, Hong Kong Island |
| 16:30 | Everton 15' |
Report | Sá 90+6' (pen.) |
Stadium: Siu Sai Wan Sports Ground Attendance: 465 Referee: Woo Chun Sing |
| 11 December 2021 SP27 | Southern | 0–0 | Rangers | Siu Sai Wan, Hong Kong Island |
| 19:00 | Report | Stadium: Siu Sai Wan Sports Ground Attendance: 465 Referee: Lau Fong Hei |
| 12 December 2021 SP28 | HK U23 | 1–4 | Kitchee | Diamond Hill, Kowloon |
| 15:00 | Law Hiu Chung 74' (pen.) |
Report | Chan Siu Kwan 11' Ichikawa 19' Chan 33' Orr 56' |
Stadium: Hammer Hill Road Sports Ground Attendance: 503 Referee: Yu Kin Fung |
| 18 December 2021 SP29 | Southern | 3–1 | Kitchee | Tsing Yi, New Territories |
| 15:00 | Khan 48', 67' Pereira 61' |
Report | Chang Kwong Yin 90+4' |
Stadium: Tsing Yi Sports Ground Attendance: 605 Referee: Tang Hing Fu |
| 19 December 2021 SP30 | Resources Capital | 0–2 | Eastern | Sham Shui Po, Kowloon |
| 15:00 | Report | Sun Ming Him 40' (pen.) Everton 59' |
Stadium: Sham Shui Po Sports Ground Attendance: 548 Referee: Law Bik Chi |
| 2 January 2022 SP31 | Kitchee | 3–2 | Rangers | Yuen Long, New Territories |
| 15:00 | Gavilán 24' (pen.) Damjanović 69' (pen.), 70' |
Report | Bazán 66' (pen.), 87' (pen.) |
Stadium: Yuen Long Stadium Attendance: 634 Referee: Woo Chun Sing |
| 1 January 2022 SP32 | Lee Man | 5–0 | HKFC | Mong Kok, Kowloon |
| 17:30 | Kim Seung-yong 15' Nakamura 32' Acosta 39' Wong Ho Chun 48' Yu Wai Lim 56' |
Report | Stadium: Mong Kok Stadium Attendance: 487 Referee: Law Bik Chi |
| 1 January 2022 SP33 | HK U23 | 0–3 | Eastern | Tai Po, New Territories |
| 15:00 | Report | Sun Ming Him 16', 85' Dovale 56' |
Stadium: Tai Po Sports Ground Attendance: 296 Referee: Ho Wai Sing |
| 2 January 2022 SP34 | Resources Capital | 0–1 | Southern | Mong Kok, Kowloon |
| 17:30 | Report | Pereira 55' |
Stadium: Mong Kok Stadium Attendance: 531 Referee: Luk Kin Sun |
| 8 January 2022 SP35 | Rangers | Cancelled | Eastern | Tseung Kwan O, New Territories |
| 15:00 | Report | Stadium: Tseung Kwan O Sports Ground |
| 9 January 2022 SP37 | Kitchee | Cancelled | Lee Man | Tai Po, New Territories |
| 15:00 | Report | Stadium: Tai Po Sports Ground |
| 9 January 2022 SP38 | Resources Capital | Cancelled | HK U23 | Mong Kok, Kowloon |
| 17:30 | Report | Stadium: Mong Kok Stadium |
Top scorers edit
| Rank | Player | Club | Goals[5] |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Dejan Damjanović
|
Kitchee | 8 |
| 2 |  Sun Ming Him
|
Eastern | 7 |
 Felipe Sá
|
Resources Capital | ||
| 3 | Stefan Pereira
|
Southern | 6 |
| 4 | Juninho
|
Rangers | 5 |
| Everton
|
Eastern | ||
| 5 |  Naveed Khan
|
Eastern | 3 |
| Yuto Nakamura
|
Lee Man | ||
 Leandro Bazán
|
Rangers | ||
| 5 | Gil
|
Lee Man | 2 |
 Manolo Bleda
|
Lee Man | ||
| Jonathan Acosta
|
Lee Man | ||
| Hélio
|
Kitchee | ||
| Shinichi Chan
|
Kitchee | ||
| Matt Orr
|
Kitchee | ||
| Manuel Gavilán
|
Kitchee | ||
| Ho Sze Chit
|
Resources Capital | ||
| Clayton
|
Eastern | ||
| Dudu
|
Southern | ||
 Shu Sasaki
|
Southern | ||
| Jahangir Khan
|
Southern | ||
| Law Hiu Chung
|
HK U23 |
Remarks edit
References edit
- ^ "Arrangement of 2021 – 2022 BOC Life Hong Kong Premier League and Sapling Cup". Hong Kong Football Association. 2021-09-04. Retrieved 2021-09-04.
- ^ Ming Fai, Ngan (5 January 2022). "政府收緊防疫措施 1.16香港單車節取消". HK01. Retrieved 5 January 2022. (in Chinese)
- ^ Siu, Twinnie; Master, Farah (22 February 2022). "Hong Kong to enforce mass testing amid predicted surge in COVID infections". Reuters. Retrieved 22 February 2022.
- ^ Hong Kong Football Association. "Arrangement of 2021-2022 BOC Life Hong Kong Premier League and cup matches". Hong Kong Football Association. Retrieved 25 February 2022.
- ^ Shooter HKFA 26 September 2021