The Hong Kong club won the last 16 match 2-0 at the Sultan Mohd IV Stadium last night.
An own goal by Croatian defender Lek Kcira in the 15th minute gave the Hong Kong side the lead before Spaniard Jordi Tarres doubled the score deep into added time in the first half.
The Red Warriors controlled most of the match but failed to create any clear cut chances. Coach Bojan Hodak’s men were also guilty of lapses in concentration at the back.
Kelantan could have gone in front in the first half but Australian striker Dimitrios Petratos’ shot found the side netting.
Kitchee’s game plan – defending deep and launching fast counter attacks – worked well as Zeeshan Rahman’s attempt deflected off Kcira and bounced into goal.
The east coast giants tried to play a high defence to get back into the game but it backfired when Tarres beat Kelantan’s offside trap to slot in Kitchee’s second goal – and his 12th of the competition – just before the half-time whistle.
The introduction of Nigerian striker Dickson Nwakaeme after the break gave Kelantan more bite upfront as he cleverly linked up play with Petratos and Mohd Norfarhan Mohd.
Norfarhan and Nwakaeme came close to getting Kelantan back into the game but their attempts in the 63rd and 70th minutes were ruled offside.
The crushing defeat – Kelantan’s second home loss of the season – ended their hopes of repeating last season’s quarter-final achievement.
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