Jin Hua beat Nanyang to win inaugural Chinese League Cup

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Jin Hua SC players and officials celebrate their victory in the 1st Datuk Sim Kui Hian Cup football tournament at Stadium Negeri, Petra Jaya last Saturday.

Jin Hua SC players and officials celebrate their victory in the 1st Datuk Sim Kui Hian Cup football tournament at Stadium Negeri, Petra Jaya last Saturday.

KUCHING: Jin Hua Sport Club clinched the inaugural Datuk Dr Sim Kui Hian Cup when they edged Nanyang United Football Club 3-2 in the final of the Kuching Chinese Football League Cup at Stadium Negeri on Saturday (Nov 26) night.

Nanyang’s Wong Sui Ying scored an own goal during a goalmouth melee in the 23 minute to gift Jin Hua with an 1-0 lead.

Barely a minute later, Raymos Sari found the net to stretch Jin Hua’s lead to 2-0 and the scoreline remained at the end of the first half.

After the breather, both teams tried to score but poor finishing let them down until Nanyang’s Justin Baalon scored in the 38 minute to reduce the deficit.

Sanjos Sundawat equalised for Nanyang in the 87th minute and the game looked headed for extra time until former national Wong Sai Kong turned the hero for Jin Hua as he netted the winner in the 93rd minute.

The victory earned Jin Hua RM2,000 and the challenge trophy while Nanyang walked away with RM1,000.

Jin Hua grabbed more honours as Wong Sai Kong was adjudged the best player of the tournament and Alvin Lu Boon Ping the best goalkeeper.

Sanjos was the top goalscorer with 32 goals and Nanyang walked away with the fairplay award.

The third and fourth-placed teams were Saints FC and Padungan United respectively.

Event patron Datuk Dr Sim Kui Hian, who is Minister of Local Government, gave away the prizes. Also present were organising chairman Tan Kai and Football Association of Sarawak officials.

The tournament, jointly organised by SUPP Youth Central, IHua Tabuan FC and Jin Hua Batu Kawa Recreational Sports Club, attracted eight teams.