HONG KONG (Interstat) — Yumemi Kanda’s second-half goal was the difference as Kitchee maintained its perfect start to the Hong Kong Premier League season with a 1-0 victory over Lee Man at Tseung Kwan O Sports Ground on Sunday, Feb. 15, 2026.

The tightly contested match, a rematch of last season’s title decider, saw the defending champions extend their league record to 12 wins and one draw, preserving a significant lead at the top of the table. Lee Man, which began the day in second place, fell further behind with a record of eight wins, two draws and two losses.

The game’s lone moment of quality arrived in the 55th minute. Goalkeeper Pong Cheuk Hei, demonstrating exceptional vision, launched a long, raking pass from his own penalty area that found substitute Mikael in stride down the left flank. The attacker carried the ball forward before delivering a precise low cross into the path of the onrushing Kanda. The Japanese midfielder made no mistake, slotting his first-time finish past the Lee Man goalkeeper to send the home supporters into celebration.

Lee Man, which had suffered a 3-2 defeat to Kitchee in the reverse fixture on Sept. 20, 2025, pressed for an equalizer but found the home defense organized and resilient. The visitors’ frustration boiled over in the closing minutes, resulting in yellow cards for Mikael in the 88th minute and the assist-providing goalkeeper Pong Cheuk Hei in the 89th minute for time-wasting.

The result defied the pre-match projections from Interstat, whose game simulator had predicted a 2-1 win for Kitchee. The firm’s ELO rating system had given the hosts a 66.40 percent probability of victory.

The win solidifies Kitchee’s commanding position in the title race. The club’s only defeat across all competitions this season came in an international friendly against Thailand’s BG Pathum United in July 2025. Their domestic form remains unblemished through 13 league matches.

For Lee Man, the defeat is a setback in its pursuit of the champions. The team had been in strong form, including an 8-1 thrashing of Eastern on Jan. 24 and a 4-1 win at Kowloon City DSA on Feb. 1. They will look to rebound when they visit Eastern on Feb. 28.

Kitchee’s next league fixture is at home against Hong Kong on March 1.