South China 4-0 Home United

HONG KONG - Two goals in two first-half minutes set South China on their way to a comfortable 4-0 victory over Home United and a place in the quarter-finals of the AFC Cup.

Kwok Kin-pong and Li Haiqiang both struck early in the opening period before Caca extended the lead after the break and the South China captain claimed his second of the game from the spot to set the seal on a dominant performance in the last 16 clash at Hong Kong Stadium.

Tales Schutz was identified by Home boss PN Sivaji as South China's main threat before the game and the midfielder had a hand in the opening goal after 19 minutes when his exquisitely flighted ball from deep on the left flank was met by the onrushing Kwok at the far post and his header squeezed past keeper Lionel Lewis.

A boisterous home crowd were on their feet again two minutes later as South China doubled their lead. Caca's delightful ball over the top set Li free and the skipper slipped a low finish under the advancing Lewis.

The Hong Kong league champions continued to press and were inches away from a third goal soon after when Caca laid the ball back to Li and his whipped cross was met with a stooping header from Bai He that looped over Lewis but bounced off the top of the bar.

Left-back Poon Yiu-cheuk then saw a fierce left-foot shot from 20 yards smartly turned round the post by Lewis after 37 minutes as South China finished the half well on top.

The third goal came in the 52nd minute as Caca took advantage of an unfortunate slip by a Home defender to power into the box and beat an exposed Lewis with a low finish at his near post.

South China almost scored a fourth 10 minutes later when Schutz was played in but Lewis produced a good stop to deny the midfielder.

The ball broke to Caca and although his follow-up beat one defender, another on the line managed to clear to safety.

It proved a short-lived respite for the Singaporeans, however, as from the subsequent corner a push on the South China forward led to the referee pointing to the spot. Li stepped up and his insolent chip into the right corner sent the Home keeper the wrong way.

Home began to show more attacking threat and Valery Hiek flashed an effort narrowly wide from 25 yards before Caca almost added a fifth five minutes from time after a cutback found the forward in acres of space inside the box but he was brilliantly denied on the line twice by skipper S. Subramani.