# 2019–20 Hong Kong Sapling Cup

The 2019–20 Hong Kong Sapling Cup was the 5th edition of the Hong Kong Sapling Cup, and was the second time in history without name sponsorship. The Cup was contested by the 10 teams in the 2019–20 Hong Kong Premier League. The objective of the Cup was to create more potential playing opportunities for youth players. Each team were required to field a minimum of three players born on or after 1 January 1998 (U-22) and a maximum of six foreign players during every whole match, with no more than four foreign players on the pitch at the same time.
Lee Man were the defending champions, but were eliminated after failing to progress further from group stage. Kitchee became the champions for the second time after beating Southern in the final.

## Calendar

| Phase | Round | Draw Date | Date | Matches | Clubs |
| Group stage | Matchday 1 | 11 September 2019 | 18, 24 September 2019 23 October 2019 6 November 2019 | 40 | 10 → 2 |
| Group stage | Matchday 2 | 11 September 2019 | 22, 26–27 October 2019 | 40 | 10 → 2 |
| Group stage | Matchday 3 | 11 September 2019 | 26–27, 29 October 2019 11 January 2020 | 40 | 10 → 2 |
| Group stage | Matchday 4 | 11 September 2019 | 5–6, 14–15 December 2019 | 40 | 10 → 2 |
| Group stage | Matchday 5 | 11 September 2019 | 29 December 2019 4 January 2020 | 40 | 10 → 2 |
| Group stage | Matchday 6 | 11 September 2019 | 5 January 2020 1, 3 February 2020 | 40 | 10 → 2 |
| Group stage | Matchday 7 | 11 September 2019 | 2, 4, 22 February 2020 | 40 | 10 → 2 |
| Group stage | Matchday 8 | 11 September 2019 | 22–23 February 2020 3 March 2020 | 40 | 10 → 2 |
| Group stage | Matchday 9 | 11 September 2019 | 7–8 March 2020 | 40 | 10 → 2 |
| Group stage | Matchday 10 | 11 September 2019 | 10, 12 January 2020 14–15 March 2020 | 40 | 10 → 2 |
| Knockout phase | Final | 11 September 2019 | 27 September 2020 at Tseung Kwan O Sports Ground | 1 | 2 → 1 |

## Group stage
### Group A

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | Kitchee (A) | 8 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 20 | 6 | +14 | 19 | Advance to Final |
| 2 | Eastern | 8 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 14 | 5 | +9 | 16 | |
| 3 | Pegasus | 8 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 19 | 20 | −1 | 12 | |
| 4 | Lee Man | 8 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 17 | 22 | −5 | 7 | |
| 5 | Rangers | 8 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 10 | 27 | −17 | 4 | |

### Group B

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | Southern (A) | 8 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 8 | 5 | +3 | 15 | Advance to Final |
| 2 | R&F | 8 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 18 | 12 | +6 | 13 | |
| 3 | Yuen Long | 8 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 19 | 17 | +2 | 12 | |
| 4 | Happy Valley | 8 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 13 | 17 | −4 | 8 | |
| 5 | Tai Po | 8 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 18 | 25 | −7 | 6 | |

## Final

The final will take place on 27 September 2020 at Tseung Kwan O Sports Ground.

## Top scorers

| Rank | Player | Club | Goals |
| 1 | Manuel Gavilán | Happy Valley | 7 |
| 2 | Wellingsson | Kitchee | 6 |
| 3 | Fernando | Kitchee | 5 |
| 3 | Mikael | Yuen Long | 5 |
| 3 | Jordi Tarrés | Lee Man | 5 |
| 3 | Stefan Pereira | Rangers | 5 |
| 3 | Leandro Bazán | Rangers | 5 |
| 8 | Maicon Santana | Yuen Long | 4 |
| 8 | Travis Major | Southern | 4 |
| 8 | Michaël N'dri | Lee Man | 4 |
| 8 | Manolo Bleda | Kitchee | 4 |
| 8 | Serges Déblé | R&F | 4 |

## Remarks

* ^ Since Rangers violated Sapling Cup’s Competition Regulation Article 13 “A minimum of 3 local youth players (born in 1 January 1998 or after) must be fielded at any one time of a Sapling Cup match. A player being sent-off by referee (red card or two yellow cards) shall be deemed to be a player on the field.” The Disciplinary Committee of HKFA had resolved to declare a 0–3 victory for Eastern.
* ^ The previously scheduled football match, which was originally held at 8:00pm, will be rescheduled due to the request made by both teams.
* ^ The previously scheduled football matches in 2019-20 Sapling Cup – Hong Kong Pegasus vs Kitchee and Kwoon Chung Southern vs Best Union Yuen Long, which were originally held at 8pm on 6 December and 2:30pm on 7 December at Siu Sai Wan Sports Ground, will be rescheduled in order to accommodate the Hong Kong Representative Team to prepare for the EAFF E-1 Football Championship 2019 Final in Korea Republic.
* ^ The previously scheduled football matches in 2019-20 Sapling Cup were rescheduled due to public events and transportation arrangement, and requests of clubs earlier.
* ^ Further to the public health situation and temporary suspension of the venues of Leisure and Culture Services Department (LCSD), the matches of Sapling Cup will be rearranged. All matches held at Jockey Club HKFA Football Training Centre (FTC) will be played behind closed doors (Only authorized team players, staff, guests and media are allowed to enter).
* ^ Regarding the remaining matches of BOC Life Hong Kong Premier League, Sapling Cup Final, FA Cup Final and Senior Shield Final, Hong Kong Football Association (HKFA) has received official confirmation from Home Affairs Bureau today that 6 participated teams would be allowed to resume the remaining matches under required hygiene measures.