Eastern win Hong Kong FA Cup but hat-trick hero Noah Baffoe announces departure
Previously subdued striker scores four-minute treble to break Rangers’ hearts and secure Asian Champions League Two football for his side
Noah Baffoe scored a breathtaking four-minute hat-trick to win the Hong Kong FA Cup for Eastern, then declared he had played his last match for the club.
Eastern appeared destined for disappointment against BC Rangers, who were leading 1-0 and in complete control at Mong Kok Stadium, following an early strike from Lau Chi-lok, before the irrepressible Baffoe intervened with 10 minutes remaining.
He squeezed a penalty-box shot past Oleksii Shliakotin to equalise, then beat the six-feet five-inch (1.95-metre) Rangers keeper with an outrageous 25-yard chip to turn the match on its head 60 seconds later.
“That was my favourite goal – I had to improvise … the goalkeeper is very tall but I did what came to my mind and it was perfect,” Baffoe said.
The 32-year-old lashed a left-footed strike into the corner to complete his treble and wrap up Eastern’s 3-1 victory. Baffoe, crowned Hong Kong footballer of the season on Wednesday, has scored 35 goals this season, to add to the 30 he netted last term after signing from Spanish club Manresa.
He said his next move would be to a club in Hong Kong, but would not reveal where, although it was believed he would join Lee Man.