Blackburn claimed third place in the Premier League Asia Trophy with a routine 3-0 win against Kitchee.
Kean's men beat Kitchee to clinch third place in Asia Trophy
Blackburn Rovers claimed third place in the Premier League Asia Trophy with a routine 3-0 win against Hong Kong champions Kitchee.
Goals from Mauro Formica, David Dunn and Nick Blackman meant it was a comfortable scoreline in the end for Steve Kean's men.
However, it did slightly flatter Rovers, who found themselves stretched defensively at times, particularly during the first half, by their less fancied opponents.
Toothless Kitchee had a golden opportunity to break the deadlock when skipper Ubay Luzardo blasted a first half penalty over the bar and a lack of composure in the final third also let Blackburn off the hook.
The Lancashire side breathed a huge sigh of relief when Argentine star Formica headed home shortly after the penalty miss before Dunn and Blackman netted from dead ball situations after break.
Hesitancy
Kitchee were presented with an early opportunity thanks to hesitancy in the Blackburn defence but Roberto Losada shot straight at keeper Mark Bunn.
Brett Emerton then saw an effort blocked on the line and Morten Gamst Pedersen curled a free-kick just wide of the post.
The hosts then wasted a golden opportunity to take the lead in the 22nd minute when Martin Olsson felled a Kitchee player in the box but Ubay, who scored an own goal in the 4-0 defeat by Chelsea on Wednesday, blazed over.
It was to prove costly as 11 minutes before half-time Emerton's measured cross was headed home from close range by Formica.
Olsson's long-range effort was then pushed away by keeper Wang Zhenpeng as the half drew to a close.
Misery
Pedersen's header was kept out by Wang ten minutes into the second period and Chan Man Fai rifled inches wide at the other end.
Blackburn's second came in the 69th minute when Dunn lifted a sublime free-kick into the back of the net after Ruben Rochina's mazy run was halted unfairly near the edge of the box.
And Luzardo's misery was further deepened when he bundled Blackman over in the box with seven minutes to go.
The young striker picked himself up to despatch the penalty into the top corner and seal victory.
