Kuching City and Kitchee battled to a 1-1 draw in their AFC Champions League Two Group H tie at Taha Ariffin Stadium on Thursday.
The stalemate earned the Malaysian side their first point as they moved up to third spot while Hong Kong, China’s Kitchee are one ahead in second.
The home side were handed a great start in the second minute when Callum Beattie’s back pass to Pong Cheuk Hei was mishandled and the Kitchee custodian had to watch in horror as the ball rolled into the net.
Kitchee did not let their heads drop and looked to bounce back quickly as a corner delivery dropped to Everton just inside the Kuching box with the forward’s strike cleared on the goal line by Gabriel Peres.
The visitors restored parity in the 14th minute when Victor Camarasa picked up the ball in midfield and moved it to Everton on the right, with the Hong Kong, China international then cutting inside and whizzing a shot past Haziq Nadzli before the Kuching goalkeeper could even react.
The match ebbed and flowed with both sides on the hunt for the next goal with Ajdin Mujagic blazing one over after he had received a knock down from Jerome Etame before Everton dribbled past Joao Pedro but watched agonisingly as his cross was headed against the bar by Adrian Revilla.
Kuching had the upper hand early in the second half, Etame producing a delicate touch to break into space inside the box before cutting back for Shitembi whose first-time effort was saved by Pong.
Captain Shitembi was unchallenged in the 70th minute when he swung a left-footed cross into the box which Mujagic jumped highest to head downwards but the ball bounced just wide of the goalmouth.
One final opportunity for Kuching came and went six minutes later, Pong in the right place to punch away Dylan Wenzel-Halls’ powerful strike from outside the box as the teams settled for a share of the points.
RESULTS
Kuching City (Mas) drew Kitchee (Hkg) 1-1
Adelaide United (Aus) beat Pathum United (Tha) 2-1
Machida Zelvia (Jpn) bt Tampines Rovers (Sgp) 1-0
PKR Svay Rieng (Cam) drew Shanghai Shenhua (Chn) 0-0
Lion City Sailors (Sgp) bt Tai Po (Hkg) 1-0
Phnom Penh Crown (Cam) bt Gangwon FC (Kor) 2-1
