2017–18 Hong Kong Sapling Cup
The 2017–18 Hong Kong Sapling Cup (officially the 2017–18 R&F Properties Sapling Cup for sponsorship reasons) was the 3rd edition of the Sapling Cup. The Cup was contested by the 10 teams in the 2017–18 Hong Kong Premier League. Kitchee were crowned champions after defeating Tai Po in the final.
The objective of the Cup was to create more potential playing opportunities for youth players. In this Cup competition, each team played a minimum of two players born on or after 1 January 1996 (U22) and six foreign players at most during every whole match, with no more than four foreign players on the pitch at the same time.
Calendar
Results
Group stage
Group A
Source: Hong Kong Football Association
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Head-to-head points; 3) Head-to-head goal difference; 4) Head-to-head goals scored; 5) Goal difference; 6) Goals scored; 7) Fair-play points; 8) Drawing lots
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Head-to-head points; 3) Head-to-head goal difference; 4) Head-to-head goals scored; 5) Goal difference; 6) Goals scored; 7) Fair-play points; 8) Drawing lots
| 28 October 2017 M02 | Dreams FC | 2–1 | Lee Man | Tsing Yi, Hong Kong |
| 17:30 UTC+8 | Joaquín 29'Cheng Chin Lung 43' | Report | Pereira78' | Stadium: Tsing Yi Sports Ground Attendance: 480 |
| 29 October 2017 M03 | Tai Po | 5–2 | Eastern | Diamond Hill, Hong Kong |
| 14:30 UTC+8 | Tan Chun Lok13' Sartori 17'Lazari 34', 90+4'Nakamura 35' | Report | Bleda27' (pen.) Xu Deshuai 54' | Stadium: Hammer Hill Road Sports Ground Attendance: 672 |
| 26 November 2017 M05 | Tai Po | 3–0 | Yuen Long | Diamond Hill, Hong Kong |
| 14:30 UTC+8 | Sartori5' Chak Ting Fung 19'Russell 25' | Report | Stadium: Hammer Hill Road Sports Ground Attendance: 490 |
| 3 December 2017 M08 | Eastern | 0–1 | Dreams FC | Tseung Kwan O, Hong Kong |
| 17:30 UTC+8 | Report | Cheng Chin Lung74' | Stadium: Tseung Kwan O Sports Ground Attendance: 579 |
| 16 December 2017 M09 | Lee Man | 0–0 | Eastern | Diamond Hill, Hong Kong |
| 14:30 UTC+8 | Report | Stadium: Hammer Hill Road Sports Ground Attendance: 589 |
| 17 December 2017 M11 | Yuen Long | 1–1 | Dreams FC | Tsing Yi, Hong Kong |
| 14:30 UTC+8 | Juninho66' | Report | Harima81' | Stadium: Tsing Yi Sports Ground Attendance: 645 |
| 9 February 2018 M13 | Dreams FC | 0–2 | Tai Po | Mong Kok, Hong Kong |
| 20:00 UTC+8 | Report | Chiu Siu Wai17' Wong Cho Sum 90' | Stadium: Mong Kok Stadium Attendance: 571 |
| 11 February 2018 M15 | Yuen Long | 1–2 | Lee Man | Diamond Hill, Hong Kong |
| 14:30 UTC+8 | Randelovic21' | Report | Pereira65' Denis 90' | Stadium: Hammer Hill Road Sports Ground Attendance: 410 |
| 17 March 2018 M18 | Eastern | 0–0 | Yuen Long | Mong Kok, Hong Kong |
| 17:30 UTC+8 | Report | Stadium: Mong Kok Stadium Attendance: 734 |
| 18 March 2018 M20 | Lee Man | 3–3 | Tai Po | Tsing Yi, Hong Kong |
| 17:30 UTC+8 | Pereira48', 67' (pen.), 88' | Report | Chan Hiu Fung7' Wan 57' (o.g.)Lee Ka Yiu 59' | Stadium: Tsing Yi Sports Ground Attendance: 324 |
Group B
Source: Hong Kong Football Association
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Head-to-head points; 3) Head-to-head goal difference; 4) Head-to-head goals scored; 5) Goal difference; 6) Goals scored; 7) Fair-play points; 8) Drawing lots
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Head-to-head points; 3) Head-to-head goal difference; 4) Head-to-head goals scored; 5) Goal difference; 6) Goals scored; 7) Fair-play points; 8) Drawing lots
| 28 October 2017 M01 | Southern | 1–2 | Rangers | Diamond Hill, Hong Kong |
| 14:30 UTC+8 | Marcos90+6' (pen.) | Report | Miović27' Cheng Siu Kwan 61' | Stadium: Hammer Hill Road Sports Ground Attendance: 396 |
| 29 October 2017 M04 | Pegasus | 0–4 | Kitchee | Mong Kok, Hong Kong |
| 17:30 UTC+8 | Report | Sandro50' Alex 53', 56'Stamp 78' | Stadium: Mong Kok Stadium Attendance: 1,173 |
| 2 December 2017 M06 | R&F  | 1–2 | Pegasus | Tseung Kwan O, Hong Kong |
| 17:30 UTC+8 | Giovane36' | Report | Major56' Wu Chun Ming 70' | Stadium: Tseung Kwan O Sports Ground Attendance: 301 |
| 3 December 2017 M07 | Southern | 1–1 | Kitchee | Diamond Hill, Hong Kong |
| 14:30 UTC+8 | Marcos16' | Report | Fernando73' | Stadium: Hammer Hill Road Sports Ground Attendance: 752 |
| 16 December 2017 M10 | Kitchee | 1–0 | R&F | Tseung Kwan O, Hong Kong |
| 17:30 UTC+8 | Vadócz30' | Report | Stadium: Tseung Kwan O Sports Ground Attendance: 423 |
| 17 December 2017 M12 | Rangers | 0–3 | Pegasus | Tsing Yi, Hong Kong |
| 17:00 UTC+8 | Report | Major33', 87' Emir 84' | Stadium: Tsing Yi Sports Ground Attendance: 645 |
| 10 February 2018 M14 | Rangers | 1–2 | R&F | Tseung Kwan O, Hong Kong |
| 17:00 UTC+8 | Lau Chi Lok69' | Report | Wong Kai Yiu33' Leonço 54' | Stadium: Tseung Kwan O Sports Ground Attendance: 125 |
| 11 February 2018 M16 | Pegasus | 1–0 | Southern | Tsing Yi, Hong Kong |
| 17:30 UTC+8 | Awal77' | Report | Stadium: Tsing Yi Sports Ground Attendance: 437 |
| 17 March 2018 M17 | R&F | 2–4 | Southern | Yuen Long, Hong Kong |
| 14:30 UTC+8 | Leonço13', 90+2' | Report | Wellingsson39', 75' Martínez 58'Ngue 84' | Stadium: Yuen Long Stadium Attendance: 236 |
| 18 March 2018 M19 | Kitchee | 3–2 | Rangers | Diamond Hill, Hong Kong |
| 14:30 UTC+8 | Lum2', 15' Vadócz 41' | Report | Lau Chi Lok29' Sasaki 60' (pen.) | Stadium: Hammer Hill Road Sports Ground Attendance: 324 |
Semi-finals
| 21 April 2018 M21 | Tai Po | 2–1 | Pegasus | Mong Kok, Hong Kong |
| 17:30 UTC+8 | Sartori50' (pen.) Lazari 90+4' | Report | Lam24' | Stadium: Mong Kok Stadium Attendance: 1,107 Referee: Tong Kui Sum |
| 22 April 2018 M22 | Kitchee | 3–1 | Dreams FC | Mong Kok, Hong Kong |
| 17:30 UTC+8 | Vadócz15' Alex 70', 84' | Report | Lam Hin Ting50' | Stadium: Mong Kok Stadium Attendance: 1,341 Referee: Ho Wai Sing |
Final
| 19 May 2018 M23 | Tai Po | 1–2 | Kitchee | So Kon Po, Hong Kong |
| 15:00 UTC+8 | Leung Kwun Chung90+3' | Report | Fernando85', 89' | Stadium: Hong Kong Stadium Attendance: 2,165 Referee: Ng Chiu Kok |