Cheng Lai Hin


Michael Cheng Lai Hin is a Hong Kong footballer who plays as a striker for Hong Kong Second Division League club Double Flower.
Cheng was arrested by the ICAC on match fixing charges in 2017 but was subsequently cleared.

Career

Kitchee

Cheng Lai Hin signed for Kitchee when he was only 18.
Cheng Lai Hin was one of the torch bearers for Hong Kong for the 2008 Olympic torch relay in the SAR.
On 29 November 2008, in the 2008-09 Hong Kong Senior Challenge Shield semi-final, Cheng Lai Hin came on as a substitute and scored Kitchee's second goal, but Kitchee still lost to Sun Hei SC.
On 31 May 2010, in the 2010 Singapore Cup, Cheng Lai Hin scored at the 111-minute, from a Lo Kwan Yee corner against Beijing Guoan Talent. His goal helped Kitchee win the match 2:1 and proceed to the quarter finals.

South China

On 8 June 2010, Cheng Lai Hin signed for South China in 2010, following the footsteps of Chan Siu Ki. He left Kitchee because coach Josep Gombau did not think he fitted Kitchee's 4–3–3 formation. He joined South China expecting to be only a reserve to replace the departing Chao Pengfei. South China's Steven Lo compared Cheng favourably to Jong Tae Se of North Korea but Cheng himself played down the expectations.
In the 2010-11 Hong Kong Senior Challenge Shield semi-final against Tai Po FC, Cheng Lai Hin scored twice to help South China win 3:0 and advance to the final.
In the 2011 Asian Challenge Cup, Cheng Lai Hin came on as a substitute against Ulsan Hyundai in the third place play-off and scored South China's second goal. But South China lost the match 2:4 to finish last.
In the 2011 AFC Cup away game to East Bengal FC, Cheng Lai Hin scored the second goal for South China, his first goal in the competition, at the 87-minute. The match ended 3:3.
In the crucial away leg to Persipura Jayapura, a 2011 AFC Cup game, Chan Siu Ki was suspended and Cheng Lai Hin was required to partner Mateja Kezman up front. Kezman claimed he was confident of the partnership with Cheng. But in the end South China lost the match 2:4 and any chance to qualify for the second phase.
In his first season at South China, Cheng Lai Hin finished as the top scorer of the club by scoring a total of 7 goals in all local competitions, despite being not a regular starting member, 1 more than Mateja Kezman and 2 more than regular starter Chan Siu Ki.

Hong Kong Pegasus

Cheng joined Pegasus in the summer of 2015.

International

On 20 June 2010, Cheng Lai Hin scored a hat-trick for Hong Kong national football team in the 2010 Hong Kong–Macau Interport. His goals helped Hong Kong win the match 5–1 and claimed the Interport Trophy. On 30 September 2011, Cheng Lai-Hin scored the second goal in the 3:3 draw with the Philippines in the 2011 Long Teng Cup.

Match Fixing Scandal

On 6 October 2016, Cheng was one of six current and former Pegasus players to be taken in for questioning by the ICAC on allegations of match fixing. He was formally charged on 28 June 2017 for conspiracy to defraud and offering an advantage to an agent.
On 19 April 2018, Cheng was found not guilty of both charges after the judge ruled that he could not convict him beyond a reasonable doubt.

Honours

Club

;Happy Valley
;Hong Kong:
As of 6 December 2006

International career

#DateVenueOpponentResultScoredCompetition
16 January 2010National Stadium, Madinat 'Isa0–402011 AFC Asian Cup qualification
214 February 2010Olympic Stadium, Tokyo0–202010 East Asian Football Championship
33 March 2010Hong Kong Stadium, Hong Kong0–002011 AFC Asian Cup qualification
417 November 2010Hong Kong Stadium, Hong Kong0–70Friendly
59 February 2011Shah Alam Stadium, Kuala Lumpur0–20Friendly
630 September 2011Kaohsiung National Stadium, Kaohsiung3–312011 Long Teng Cup
72 October 2011Kaohsiung National Stadium, Kaohsiung5–102011 Long Teng Cup
84 October 2011Kaohsiung National Stadium, Kaohsiung6–002011 Long Teng Cup