2020–21 Hong Kong Sapling Cup
Football tournament season
Football tournament season
| 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. | |
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.
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
| 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
Group A
| 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.
Pegasus v Lee Man
| 25 October 2020 (2020-10-25) 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 |
Kitchee v Rangers
| 25 October 2020 (2020-10-25) 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 |
Lee Man v Kitchee
| 31 October 2020 (2020-10-31) 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 |
Rangers v Pegasus
| 31 October 2020 (2020-10-31) 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 |
Pegasus v Kitchee
| 4 November 2020 (2020-11-04) MD3 | Pegasus | 0–0 | Kitchee | Mong Kok, Kowloon |
| 20:00 | Report | Stadium: Mong Kok Stadium Attendance: 0[N 1] Referee: Tam Ping Wun |
Lee Man v Pegasus
| 8 November 2020 (2020-11-08) 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 |
Rangers v Kitchee
| 8 November 2020 (2020-11-08) 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 |
Pegasus v Rangers
| 14 November 2020 (2020-11-14) 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 |
Kitchee v Lee Man
| 14 November 2020 (2020-11-14) MD5 | Kitchee | 0–0 | Lee Man | Tsing Yi, New Territories |
| 17:30 | Report | Stadium: Tsing Yi Sports Ground Attendance: 654 Referee: Lau Fong Hei |
Rangers v Lee Man
| 18 November 2020 (2020-11-18) 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 |
Kitchee v Pegasus
| 20 February 2021 (2021-02-20) 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 |
Lee Man v Rangers
| 21 February 2021 (2021-02-21) 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
| 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.
Southern v Resources Capital
| 24 October 2020 (2020-10-24) 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 |
Eastern v Happy Valley
| 24 October 2020 (2020-10-24) 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 |
Eastern v Resources Capital
| 28 October 2020 (2020-10-28) 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 |
Southern v Eastern
| 1 November 2020 (2020-11-01) 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 |
Happy Valley v Resources Capital
| 1 November 2020 (2020-11-01) 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 |
Resources Capital v Southern
| 7 November 2020 (2020-11-07) 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 |
Happy Valley v Eastern
| 7 November 2020 (2020-11-07) 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 |
Happy Valley v Southern
| 11 November 2020 (2020-11-11) MD2 | Happy Valley | 0–0 | Southern | Mong Kok, Kowloon |
| 20:00 | Report | Stadium: Mong Kok Stadium Attendance: 463 Referee: Wong Kei Hoi |
Resources Capital v Happy Valley
| 15 November 2020 (2020-11-15) 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 |
Eastern v Southern
| 15 November 2020 (2020-11-15) 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 |
Southern v Happy Valley
| 20 February 2021 (2021-02-20) 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 |
Resources Capital v Eastern
| 21 February 2021 (2021-02-21) 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
The semi-final took place on 24 February 2021 at Mong Kok Stadium.
Lee Man v Happy Valley
| 24 February 2021 (2021-02-24) SF | Lee Man | w/o | Happy Valley | Mong Kok, Kowloon |
| 19:00 | Report | Stadium: Mong Kok Stadium |
Eastern v Kitchee
| 24 February 2021 (2021-02-24) SF | Eastern | 1–0 | Kitchee | Mong Kok, Kowloon |
| 19:00 | Sandro 35' | Report | Stadium: Mong Kok Stadium Attendance: 1,557 Referee: Yu Kin Fung |
Final
The final took place on 7 April 2021 at Mong Kok Stadium.
Happy Valley v Eastern
| 7 April 2021 (2021-04-07) 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
| 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
- ^ Match was played behind closed doors due to the 2020 coronavirus pandemic in Hong Kong.
