2024–25 Hong Kong Sapling Cup
| Tournament details | |
|---|---|
| Country | Hong Kong |
| Dates | 12 October 2024 – 1 May 2025 |
| Teams | 9 |
| Defending champions | Rangers |
| Final positions | |
| Champions | Southern |
| Runners-up | Lee Man |
| Tournament statistics | |
| Matches played | 19 |
| Goals scored | 58 (3.05 per match) |
| Attendance | 10,785 (568 per match) |
| Top goal scorer(s) | Matheus Chulapa Michel Renner Igor Sartori (3 goals each) |
| Awards | |
| Best player | Jonatan Acosta |
The 2024–25 Hong Kong Sapling Cup (named as JC Sapling Cup for sponsorship reasons) was the 10th edition of the Hong Kong Sapling Cup. The competition was contested by the 9 teams in the 2024–25 Hong Kong Premier League. Each team was required to field a minimum of three players born on or after 1 January 2003 (U-22) and a maximum of six foreign players during every whole match.[1]
Rangers were the defending champions, but were eliminated in the group stage. Southern became the champions for the second time after beating Lee Man in the final.
Details
The champions of the JC Sapling Cup will receive HKD$120,000 in prize money, and HKD$100,000 donation to the champions' specified organization. Meanwhile, the runner-up will receive HKD$60,000, and HKD$50,000 donation to the runner-up's specified organization. In addition, the two losing teams in the semi-finals will receive HK$30,000 while the remaining teams will receive HK$15,000.
In addition, the best U-22 player in each team will receive a prize of HKD$3,000. The most outstanding U-22 player among the selected best U-22 players from each team will receive an additional HKD$5,000 for being the best of all the U-22 players.[2]
Format
The participating teams were divided into two groups for a single round-robin tournament. Top two teams in each group advance to the semi-finals.
Calendar
| Phase | Draw Date | Date | Matches | Clubs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Group stage | 23 September 2024 | 12 October 2024 – 26 March 2025 | 16 | 9 → 4 |
| Semi-finals | 9 – 16 April 2025 | 2 | 4 → 2 | |
| Final | 1 May 2025 | 1 | 2 → 1 |
Fixtures and results
Group stage
Group A
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tai Po | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 11 | 5 | +6 | 10 | Advance to Semi-finals |
| 2 | Eastern | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 9 | 4 | +5 | 7 | |
| 3 | North District | 4 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 8 | 8 | 0 | 5[a] | |
| 4 | Kitchee | 4 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 6 | −1 | 5[a] | |
| 5 | HKFC | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 3 | 13 | −10 | 0 |
Updated to match(es) played on 22 March 2025. Source: HKFA
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;
Notes:
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;
Notes:
| 13 October 2024 | Tai Po | 2–1 | Eastern | Tai Po, New Territories |
| 15:00 | Report |
|
Stadium: Tai Po Sports Ground Attendance: 586 Referee: Ho Wai Sing |
| 13 October 2024 | HKFC | 1–3 | North District | Diamond Hill, Kowloon |
| 15:00 |
|
Report |
|
Stadium: Hammer Hill Road Sports Ground Attendance: 155 Referee: Yu Kin Fung |
| 16 November 2024 | North District | 1–1 | Kitchee | Sheung Shui, New Territories |
| 15:00 |
|
Report |
|
Stadium: North District Sports Ground Attendance: 288 Referee: Wong Po Sing |
| 16 November 2024 | Eastern | 4–0 | HKFC | Tsing Yi, New Territories |
| 18:00 |
|
Report | Stadium: Tsing Yi Sports Ground Attendance: 217 Referee: Poon Chun Kit |
| 8 December 2024 | Kitchee | 3–1 | HKFC | Diamond Hill, Kowloon |
| 15:00 |
|
Report |
|
Stadium: Hammer Hill Road Sports Ground Attendance: 232 Referee: Luk Kin Sun |
| 8 December 2024 | Tai Po | 3–3 | North District | Sheung Shui, New Territories |
| 15:00 |
|
Report | Stadium: North District Sports Ground Attendance: 269 Referee: Woo Chun Sing |
| 15 December 2024 | North District | 1–3 | Eastern | Sheung Shui, New Territories |
| 15:00 |
|
Report |
|
Stadium: North District Sports Ground Attendance: 221 Referee: Cheung Wai Lung |
| 15 December 2024 | Kitchee | 0–3 | Tai Po | Tsing Yi, New Territories |
| 18:00 | Report |
|
Stadium: Tsing Yi Sports Ground Attendance: 290 Referee: Wong Po Sing |
| 22 March 2025 | HKFC | 1–3 | Tai Po | Siu Sai Wan, Hong Kong Island |
| 15:00 |
|
Report | Stadium: Siu Sai Wan Sports Ground Attendance: 592 Referee: Poon Chun Kit |
| 22 March 2025 | Eastern | 1–1 | Kitchee | Siu Sai Wan, Hong Kong Island |
| 18:00 |
|
Report |
|
Stadium: Siu Sai Wan Sports Ground Attendance: 592 Referee: Luk Kin Sun |
Group B
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Southern | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 1 | +4 | 6[a] | Advance to Semi-finals |
| 2 | Lee Man | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 2 | +3 | 6[a] | |
| 3 | Rangers | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 2 | +1 | 6[a] | |
| 4 | Kowloon City | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 10 | −8 | 0 |
Updated to match(es) played on 26 March 2025. Source: HKFA
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;
Notes:
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;
Notes:
| 12 October 2024 | Rangers | 0–1 | Lee Man | Mong Kok, Kowloon |
| 15:00 | Report |
|
Stadium: Mong Kok Stadium Attendance: 574 Referee: Wong Wai Lun |
| 12 October 2024 | Southern | 4–0 | Kowloon City | Tsing Yi, New Territories |
| 18:00 |
|
Report | Stadium: Tsing Yi Sports Ground Attendance: 276 Referee: Tang Hing Fu |
| 17 November 2024 | Rangers | 2–1 | Kowloon City | Siu Sai Wan, Hong Kong Island |
| 15:00 |
|
Report |
|
Stadium: Siu Sai Wan Sports Ground Attendance: 410 Referee: Woo Chun Sing |
| 17 November 2024 | Lee Man | 0–1 | Southern | Siu Sai Wan, Hong Kong Island |
| 18:00 | Report |
|
Stadium: Siu Sai Wan Sports Ground Attendance: 410 Referee: Ho Wai Sing |
| 15 December 2024 | Kowloon City | 1–4 | Lee Man | Sham Shui Po, Kowloon |
| 15:00 |
|
Report |
|
Stadium: Sham Shui Po Sports Ground Attendance: 455 Referee: Tang Hing Fu |
| 26 March 2025 | Southern | 0–1 | Rangers | Mong Kok, Kowloon |
| 19:30 | Report |
|
Stadium: Mong Kok Stadium Attendance: 297 Referee: Tam Ping Wun |
Knockout stage
Bracket
| Semi-finals | Finals | |||||
| 16 April 2025 | ||||||
| Tai Po | 1 (2) | |||||
| 1 May 2025 | ||||||
| Lee Man(p) | 1 (4) | |||||
| Lee Man | 0 | |||||
| 9 April 2025 | ||||||
| Southern | 4 | |||||
| Southern | 1 | |||||
| Eastern | 0 | |||||
Semi-finals
| 9 April 2025 | Southern | 1–0 | Eastern | Mong Kok Stadium |
| 20:00 | Report | Attendance: 716 Referee: Tam Ping Wun |
| 16 April 2025 | Tai Po | 1–1 (a.e.t.) (2–4 p) | Lee Man | Mong Kok Stadium |
| 20:00 |
|
Report | Attendance: 1,133 Referee: Liu Kwok Man | |
| Penalties | ||||
Final
| 1 May 2025 | Lee Man | 0–4 | Southern | Mong Kok Stadium |
| 17:30 | Report | Attendance: 3,072 Referee: Lau Fong Hei |
Top scorers
| Rank | Player | Club | Goals[3] |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Matheus Chulapa | North District | 3 |
| Michel Renner | Tai Po | ||
| Igor Sartori | Tai Po | ||
| 4 | Noah Baffoe | Eastern | 2 |
| Víctor Bertomeu | Eastern | ||
| Gregory | Southern | ||
| Kendy | North District | ||
| Jahangir Khan | North District | ||
| Lau Chi Lok | Rangers | ||
| Leung Kwun Chung | Eastern | ||
| Marcão | Tai Po | ||
| Stefan Pereira | Southern |
Awards
Best U-22 Player
| Prize | Team | Winner |
|---|---|---|
| Best U-22 Player in Each Team | Eastern | Ma Hei Wai |
| HKFC | James Wright | |
| Kitchee | Chen Ngo Hin | |
| Kowloon City | Ho Lung Ho | |
| Lee Man | Timothy Chow | |
| North District | Dai Tsz Hin | |
| Rangers | Li Wing Ho | |
| Southern | Sohgo Ichikawa | |
| Tai Po | Lee Lok Him | |
| Best of all U-22 Players | Southern | Sohgo Ichikawa |
References
- ^ 袁志浩 (2024-09-23). "菁英盃減場次 足總爭取馬會延續贊助 港足東亞錦外圍賽或遇朝鮮". 香港01 (in Chinese (Hong Kong)). Retrieved 2024-09-23.
- ^ "賽馬會菁英盃 分組賽改踢單循環 10．12展開". on.cc東網 (in Chinese (Hong Kong)). 2024-09-23. Retrieved 2024-09-23.
- ^ [1] HKFA 30 September 2023