Intro:

A penalty by Juan Belencoso ensures Hong Kong champions Kitchee draw 1-1 away to Erbil of Iraq in their AFC Cup semi-final first leg.

Script:

Erbil of Iraq hosted Hong Kong's Kitchee in the AFC Cup semi-final first leg on Tuesday.

Erbil controlled the first half but Nabeel Sabah was unable to convert their dominance into a goal.

In the second half, a Kitchee corner picked out Juan Belencoso, whose header cannoned back off the crossbar.

Erbil then went in front after Ahmed Hussein's deflected shot presented captain Luay Salah with an easy tap-in. The Kitchee defence simply switched off.

Less than ten minutes later the Hong Kong champions were awarded a penalty following a handball by Ali Faez.

Belencoso then levelled from the spot to secure a precious 1-1 draw. That was the 33-year-old Spaniard's 11th goal of this year's AFC Cup.

The teams meet again for the return leg in Hong Kong next Tuesday.