2022–23 Hong Kong Sapling Cup
| Tournament details | |
|---|---|
| Country | Hong Kong | 
| Dates | 2 September 2022 – 20 May 2023 | 
| Teams | 10 | 
| Defending champions | Eastern | 
| Final positions | |
| Champions | Southern | 
| Runners-up | Lee Man | 
| Tournament statistics | |
| Matches played | 43 | 
| Goals scored | 151 (3.51 per match) | 
| Attendance | 25,506 (593 per match) | 
| Top goal scorer(s) | Paulinho Simionato (8 goals) | 
| Awards | |
| Best player | Stefan Pereira | 
The 2022–23 Sapling Cup (named as JC Sapling Cup for sponsorship reasons) was the 8th edition of the Sapling Cup. The competition was contested by the 10 teams in the 2022–23 Hong Kong Premier League. Each team was required to field a minimum of three players born on or after 1 January 2001 (U-22) and a maximum of six foreign players during every whole match, with no more than five foreign players on the pitch at the same time.
Eastern were the defending champions, but were eliminated in the semi-finals. Southern became the champions for the first time after beating Lee Man in the final.
The champions of the Jockey Club Sapling Cup received HKD$120,000 in prize money, and HKD$100,000 donation to the champions' specified organization. Meanwhile, the runner-up received HKD$60,000, and HKD$50,000 donation to the runner-up's specified organization. In addition, the two losing teams in the semi-finals received HK$30,000 while the remaining teams will receive HK$15,000.
In addition, the best U-22 player in each team received a prize of HKD$3,000. The most outstanding U-22 player among the selected best U-22 players from each team received an additional HKD$5,000 for being the best of all the U-22 players.[1]
Format
The participating teams were divided into two groups for a double round-robin tournament. Top two teams in each group advance to the semi-finals.
Calendar
| Phase | Draw Date | Date | Matches | Clubs | 
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Group stage | 20 August 2022[2] | 2 September 2022 – 10 April 2023 | 40 | 10 → 4 | 
| Semi-finals | 19–20 April 2023 | 2 | 4 → 2 | |
| Final | 20 May 2023 at Mong Kok Stadium | 1 | 2 → 1 | 
Fixtures and results
Group stage
Group A
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification | 
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Southern | 8 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 25 | 8 | +17 | 19 | Advance to Semi-finals | 
| 2 | Lee Man | 8 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 18 | 10 | +8 | 17 | |
| 3 | Tai Po | 8 | 3 | 0 | 5 | 14 | 14 | 0 | 9 | |
| 4 | HKFC | 8 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 14 | 18 | −4 | 7 | |
| 5 | Sham Shui Po | 8 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 6 | 27 | −21 | 5 | 
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Head-to-head points; 3) Head-to-head goal difference; 4) Goal difference; 5) Goals scored.
| 10 September 2022 SP02 | Southern | 4–0 | Sham Shui Po | Tai Po, New Territories | 
| 15:00 | Kessi  27' Sasaki  64' (pen.), 76', 77' | Report | Stadium: Tai Po Sports Ground Attendance: 463 Referee: Luk Kin Sun | 
| 17 September 2022 SP03 | Tai Po | 0–1 | Southern | Mong Kok, Kowloon | 
| 15:00 | Report | Dudu  90' | Stadium: Mong Kok Stadium Attendance: 942 Referee: Ho Wai Sing | 
| 1 October 2022 SP04 | Sham Shui Po | 1–5 | Tai Po | Tai Po, New Territories | 
| 15:00 | Chen Hao  66' | Report | Khan  8' Chan Hiu Fung  45' Paulinho  67', 83', 87' (pen.) | Stadium: Tai Po Sports Ground Attendance: 674 Referee: Lau Fong Hei | 
| 8 October 2022 SP05 | HKFC | 1–1 | Sham Shui Po | Aberdeen, Hong Kong | 
| 15:00 | Ngue  68' | Report | Lo Kong Wai  74' | Stadium: Aberdeen Sports Ground Attendance: 149 Referee: Wong Po Sing | 
| 9 October 2022 SP07 | Lee Man | 1–0 | Tai Po | Tai Po, New Territories | 
| 15:00 | Gil  44' | Report | Stadium: Tai Po Sports Ground Attendance: 611 Referee: Ho Wai Sing | 
| 5 November 2022 SP11 | Southern | 4–1 | Lee Man | Mong Kok, Kowloon | 
| 18:00 | Chen Ngo Hin  8', 33' Yu Wai Lim  23' (o.g.) Tse Long Hin  71' | Report | Diego  57' | Stadium: Mong Kok Stadium Attendance: 855 | 
| 6 November 2022 SP12 | Tai Po | 2–4 | HKFC | Mong Kok, Kowloon | 
| 18:00 | Chung Wai Keung  7' Lee Ka Ho  32' | Report | Maciel  8' Moore  87' Paulinho  90+2', 90+5' | Stadium: Mong Kok Stadium Attendance: 347 Referee: Liu Kwok Man | 
| 9 November 2022 SP13 | HKFC | 2–3 | Southern | Mong Kok, Kowloon | 
| 20:00 | McMillan  29' Leo  86' | Report | Pereira  21', 57' Dudu  90+6' | Stadium: Mong Kok Stadium Attendance: 373 Referee: Woo Chun Sing | 
| 3 December 2022 SP16 | HKFC | 1–2 | Lee Man | Tsing Yi, New Territories | 
| 15:00 | Léo  63' (pen.) | Report | Cheng Chun Wang  41' Gil  53' | Stadium: Tsing Yi Sports Ground Attendance: 290 Referee: Tam Ping Wun | 
| 18 December 2022 SP18 | Sham Shui Po | 0–5 | Lee Man | Sham Shui Po, Kowloon | 
| 15:00 | Report | Everton  19', 39', 49' Bleda  70', 73' | Stadium: Sham Shui Po Sports Ground Attendance: 416 Referee: Wu Chun Sing | 
| 31 December 2022 SP20 | Sham Shui Po | 1–5 | HKFC | Tai Po, New Territories | 
| 15:00 | Thiago  31' | Report | Paulinho  15', 58' Dujardin  37' Maciel  64' Bailey  76' | Stadium: Tai Po Sports Ground Attendance: 202 Referee: Poon Chun Kit | 
| 1 January 2023 SP21 | Tai Po | 2–4 | Lee Man | Tai Po, New Territories | 
| 15:00 | Paulinho  67', 79' (pen.) | Report | Nakamura  3' Bleda  9' Tachibana  11' Everton  62' | Stadium: Tai Po Sports Ground Attendance: 525 Referee: Tam Ping Wun | 
| 7 January 2023 SP24 | Southern | 0–1 | Tai Po | Aberdeen, Hong Kong | 
| 15:00 | Report | Paulinho  73' (pen.) | Stadium: Aberdeen Sports Ground Attendance: 273 Referee: Liu Kwok Man | 
| 8 January 2023 SP25 | Lee Man | 0–0 | Sham Shui Po | Diamond Hill, Kowloon | 
| 15:00 | Report | Stadium: Hammer Hill Road Sports Ground Attendance: 308 Referee: Law Bik Chi | 
| 5 March 2023 SP31 | Sham Shui Po | 0–5 | Southern | Tai Po, New Territories | 
| 15:00 | Report | Tomas  62' Pereira  66' Moser  79', 82' Khan  90+1' | Stadium: Tai Po Sports Ground Attendance: 232 Referee: Law Bik Chi | 
| 5 March 2023 SP32 | Lee Man | 2–0 | HKFC | Tseung Kwan O, New Territories | 
| 18:00 | Gavilán  8' Gil  80' | Report | Stadium: Tseung Kwan O Sports Ground Attendance: 288 Referee: Poon Chun Kit | 
| 1 April 2023 SP34 | Southern | 5–1 | HKFC | Mong Kok, Kowloon | 
| 15:00 | Awal  14' Moser  19', 23', 39' Pereira  90+4' (pen.) | Report | Wong Sheung Choi  85' | Stadium: Mong Kok Stadium Attendance: 520 Referee: Cheung Wai Lung | 
| 2 April 2023 SP35 | Tai Po | 2–3 | Sham Shui Po | Tai Po, New Territories | 
| 15:00 | Paulinho  63' Wong Tsz Chun  80' | Report | Chen Hao  49' Benavides  57' Lo Kong Wai  65' | Stadium: Tai Po Sports Ground Attendance: 452 Referee: Chow Hon Fai | 
| 8 April 2023 SP38 | HKFC | 0–2 | Tai Po | Tai Po, New Territories | 
| 15:00 | Report | Paulinho  48' Wong Tsz Chun  90+1' | Stadium: Tai Po Sports Ground Attendance: 325 Referee: Wong Po Sing | 
| 9 April 2023 SP39 | Lee Man | 3–3 | Southern | Tseung Kwan O, New Territories | 
| 15:00 | Gavilán  3' Everton  42' Gil  90+2' | Report | Awal  21', 75' Moser  39' | Stadium: Tseung Kwan O Sports Ground Attendance: 577 Referee: Luk Kin Sun | 
Group B
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification | 
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Eastern | 8 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 16 | 8 | +8 | 17[a] | Advance to Semi-finals | 
| 2 | Rangers | 8 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 14 | 9 | +5 | 17[a] | |
| 3 | Kitchee | 8 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 24 | 7 | +17 | 16 | |
| 4 | HK U23 | 8 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 4 | 14 | −10 | 4 | |
| 5 | Resources Capital | 8 | 0 | 2 | 6 | 9 | 29 | −20 | 2 | 
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Head-to-head points; 3) Head-to-head goal difference; 4) Goal difference; 5) Goals scored.
Notes:
| 2 September 2022 SP01 | Rangers | 2–0 | HK U23 | Mong Kok, Kowloon | 
| 20:00 | Bala  17' Lau Chi Lok  85' | Report | Stadium: Mong Kok Stadium Attendance: 711 Referee: Woo Chun Sing | 
| 8 October 2022 SP06 | Resources Capital | 3–3 | Rangers | Tai Po, New Territories | 
| 15:00 | Sá  34' Ortega  86' Lam  90+1' | Report | Yu Joy Yin  2' Lau Chi Lok  23', 45' | Stadium: Tai Po Sports Ground Attendance: 368 Referee: Wong Wai Lun | 
| 9 October 2022 SP08 | Kitchee | 5–1 | Eastern | Mong Kok, Kowloon | 
| 18:00 | Mikael  9', 70' Damjanović  28', 65' (pen.) Manias  90+1' | Report | Bertomeu  7' | Stadium: Mong Kok Stadium Attendance: Luk Kin Sun Referee: 1,591 | 
| 19 October 2022 SP09 | Eastern | 1–0 | HK U23 | Mong Kok, Kowloon | 
| 20:00 | Sun Ming Him  33' | Report | Stadium: Mong Kok Stadium Attendance: 378 Referee: Cheung Wai Lung | 
| 5 November 2022 SP10 | Eastern | 3–1 | Resources Capital | Tsing Yi, New Territories | 
| 15:00 | Sun Ming Him  6' Ma Hei Wai  35' Chu Wai Kwan  54' | Report | Lam  88' | Stadium: Tsing Yi Sports Ground Attendance: 337 Referee: Luk Kin Sun | 
| 16 November 2022 SP14 | Kitchee | 2–0 | HK U23 | Mong Kok, Kowloon | 
| 20:00 | Sagynbayev  8' Ngan Cheuk Pan  90+3' | Report | Stadium: Mong Kok Stadium Attendance: 478 Referee: Yu Kin Fung | 
| 30 November 2022 SP15 | HK U23 | 1–0 | Resources Capital | Mong Kok, Kowloon | 
| 20:00 | Tang In Chim  90+2' | Report | Stadium: Mong Kok Stadium Attendance: 226 Referee: Chow Hon Fai | 
| 10 December 2022 SP17 | Rangers | 0–0 | Eastern | Aberdeen, Hong Kong | 
| 15:00 | Report | Stadium: Aberdeen Sports Ground Attendance: 217 Referee: Ho Wai Sing | 
| 18 December 2022 SP19 | Resources Capital | 1–6 | Kitchee | Tsing Yi, New Territories | 
| 18:00 | Lam  66' | Report | Scott  8' Ngan Cheuk Pan  39' Tsang Yi Hang  59' Manias  64' Ichikawa  78' Mikael  90+4' (pen.) | Stadium: Tsing Yi Sports Ground Attendance: 284 Referee: Tang Hing Fu | 
| 1 January 2023 SP22 | HK U23 | 0–1 | Eastern | Mong Kok, Kowloon | 
| 18:00 | Report | Wong Ho Chun  41' | Stadium: Mong Kok Stadium Attendance: 365 Referee: Tang Hing Fu | 
| 2 January 2023 SP23 | Kitchee | 4–0 | Resources Capital | Mong Kok, Kowloon | 
| 15:00 | Gerbig  45', 87' Yip Cheuk Man  64' (o.g.) Alex  81' | Report | Stadium: Mong Kok Stadium Attendance: 850 Referee: Law Bik Chi | 
| 8 January 2023 SP26 | Kitchee | 1–2 | Rangers | Mong Kok, Kowloon | 
| 18:00 | Damjanović  74' | Report | Kanda  53', 64' | Stadium: Mong Kok Stadium Attendance: 722 Referee: Woo Chun Sing | 
| 8 February 2023 SP27 | HK U23 | 1–2 | Rangers | Mong Kok, Kowloon | 
| 20:00 | Wong Ho Yin  61' | Report | Juninho  55', 88' | Stadium: Mong Kok Stadium Attendance: 303 Referee: Cheung Wai Lung | 
| 15 February 2023 SP28 | Resources Capital | 0–6 | Eastern | Mong Kok, Kowloon | 
| 20:00 | Report | Wong Ho Chun  25', 45' Jones  64' Gondra  66' Bertomeu  69' Lee Chun Ting  90+3' | Stadium: Mong Kok Stadium Attendance: 308 Referee: Chow Hon Fai | 
| 4 March 2023 SP29 | Eastern | 2–0 | Rangers | Tsing Yi, New Territories | 
| 15:00 | Sun Ming Him  62' Bertomeu  77' | Report | Stadium: Tsing Yi Sports Ground Attendance: 529 Referee: Liu Kwok Man | 
| 4 March 2023 SP30 | HK U23 | 0–4 | Kitchee | Mong Kok, Kowloon | 
| 18:00 | Report | Mingazov  27', 65' Russell  43' Sagynbayev  63' | Stadium: Mong Kok Stadium Attendance: 212 Referee: Woo Chun Sing | 
| 15 March 2023 SP33 | Rangers | 1–0 | Kitchee | Mong Kok, Kowloon | 
| 20:00 | Ibrahim  36' | Report | Stadium: Mong Kok Stadium Attendance: 677 Referee: Tam Ping Wun | 
| 2 April 2023 SP36 | Resources Capital | 2–2 | HK U23 | Tsing Yi, New Territories | 
| 18:00 | Ki Sze Ho  54' Ho Sze Chit  74' | Report | Korani  28' Ho Ka Chi  62' | Stadium: Tsing Yi Sports Ground Attendance: 231 Referee: Law Bik Chi | 
| 7 April 2023 SP37 | Rangers | 4–2 | Resources Capital | Diamond Hill, Kowloon | 
| 15:00 | Juninho  8' Kanda  18' Tsang Chung Nam  43' (o.g.) Kim Min-kyu  54' | Report | Sá  56' (pen.), 80' | Stadium: Hammer Hill Road Sports Ground Attendance: 596 Referee: Liu Kwok Man | 
| 10 April 2023 SP40 | Eastern | 2–2 | Kitchee | Mong Kok, Kowloon | 
| 15:00 | Gondra  3' Sun Ming Him  69' | Report | Mingazov  52' Hélio  88' | Stadium: Mong Kok Stadium Attendance: 2,222 Referee: Tam Ping Wun | 
Semi-finals
| 19 April 2023 SF | Southern | 2–2 (6–5 p) | Rangers | Mong Kok, Kowloon | 
| 20:00 | Sasaki  56' (pen.) Moser  76' | Report | Juninho  50' Park Jong-bum  61' | Stadium: Mong Kok Stadium Attendance: 985 Referee: Tam Ping Wun | 
| Penalties | ||||
| Pereira   Kessi   Sasaki   Chen Ngo Hin   Kawase   Khan   Lau Hok Ming   Buddle  |  Lo Kwan Yee  Kim Min-kyu  Juninho  Lam Ka Wai  Ibrahim  Yu Joy Yin  Kilama  Lui Cheuk Kan | |||
| 20 April 2023 SF | Eastern | 0–1 | Lee Man | Mong Kok, Kowloon | 
| 20:00 | Report | Sesay  90' | Stadium: Mong Kok Stadium Attendance: 1,575 Referee: Luk Kin Sun | 
Final
| 20 May 2023 F | Southern | 2–0 | Lee Man | Mong Kok, Kowloon | 
| 15:00 UTC+8 | Pereira  55', 80' | Report | Stadium: Mong Kok Stadium Attendance: 2,519 Referee: Ho Wai Sing | 
Final
The final took place on 20 May 2023 at Mong Kok Stadium.
|          Southern |           Lee Man | 
| 
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| Player of the Match:
 Assistant Referees:
 | Match rules 
 | 
Top scorers
| Rank | Player | Club | Goals[3] | 
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Paulinho Simionato | Tai Po | 8 | 
| 2 |  Jean Moser | Southern | 7 | 
| 3 |  Stefan Pereira | Southern | 6 | 
| 4 |  Everton Camargo | Lee Man | 5 | 
| 5 |  Paulinho | HKFC | 4 | 
|  Shu Sasaki | Southern | ||
|  Gil | Lee Man | ||
|  Sun Ming Him | Eastern | ||
|  Juninho | Rangers | ||
| 10 | 11 players | 3 | |
Awards
Best U-22 Player
| Prize | Team | Winner | 
|---|---|---|
| Best U-22 Player in Each Team | Kitchee |  Yuen Chun Him | 
| Eastern |  Chung Hoi Man | |
| Lee Man |  Law Cheuk Hei | |
| Southern |  Ng Wai Him | |
| Rangers |  Lo Siu Kei | |
| Tai Po |  Kwok Chun Nok | |
| HKFC |  Timothy Chow | |
| Resources Capital |  Yip Cheuk Man | |
| Sham Shui Po |  Tai Ting Hong | |
| HK U23 |  Chan Yun Tung | |
| Best of all U-22 Players | Southern |  Ng Wai Him | 





