Hong Kong Football Club, May 13-15

They huffed and they puffed. But they did blow the rooftop down. It bodes well for Hong Kong’s football future too. Local teams dominated the Soccer Sevens last weekend, sweeping all trophies available in the main tournament (and one of two in the Masters’). Newly crowned First division champions Kitchee won the Cup, Citizen won the Shield and HKFC Captain’s Select won the Plate, on the way defeating several of their more illustrious internationally renowned opponents.

On Friday, the Masters turned up to show they’ve still got the skills, if not necessarily the speed. AC Milan Soccer Schools, widely tipped to wow the crowd, were a disappointment, losing two games and drawing one. Franco Baresi did not play, but Mustapha Hadji sported a brilliant bun and perm mullet to match his flair in style of play.

It was the Citibank All Stars, comprising of former Premier League players like Rob Lee, John Beresford and Des Walker who proved that the first two steps are really in the mind. They played quick, free-flowing, counter-attacking football throughout, keeping the ball on the deck. Their 6-1 thumping of Team Bondi in the semi final was a joy to watch.

However the top prize in the Masters’ was taken by Hong Kong’s own former professionals, Top Class FC, who beat the Citibank All Stars in the Masters’ Cup final. KFC Tokyo won the Masters’ Plate on penalties, before the local teams took charge of the main tournament.

Last year’s champions Aston Villa eased through the group stages thumping their relatively inferior opposition on the way. Top scorers in the tournament this year, they continued to ease their way into the Shield Final before falling to Citizen (whom they had beaten comfortably earlier in the group stages).

Co-favourites Rangers had a tournament to forget, losing to local teams Kitchee and Citizen. Arch-rivals Celtic prodded through the tournament without much notice before losing in the final. Ajax disappointed in results, if not in style. First timers Boca Juniors looked like rabbits caught in headlights as they struggled to adapt to the climate, pace, intensity and style of play at the tournament.

Liverpool drew the biggest cheers and support from the crowd, as local Liverpool fans turned up in hordes and took over sections of the Hong Kong Football Club in support of the team. The team didn’t disappoint, playing patient but incisive football that cut through their group stage opponents. Nathan Ecclestone and David Amoo may have top scored for the Reds, but it was teenager Jesus Fernandez Saez, better known as Suso, who caught the limelight with his passing, vision and control.

Liverpool players had no rest before, during or after the game. The players were constantly mobbed by the fans asking for autographs and photographs, and again they gladly obliged. Liverpool eased through the quarter final before falling bitterly in the semi final to Kitchee, in the most exciting match of the tournament which ended with both stand-in keepers pulling off a string of reflex saves in a tense 4 v 4 golden goal knockout. Kitchee finished off the game with the last kick, silencing the Liverpool fans.

Kitchee struggled initially to make an impact, but fought hard in the knockout rounds to reach the final, defeating Rangers and Liverpool on the way. It was Kitchee’s staunch defending throughout the tournament (limiting their opponents to only three goals) that helped them get far in the competition, which was justly awarded in the ceremony as Kitchee’s defender Ubay Luzardo was named Player of the Tournament.

There were a few scuffles along the way as it got a bit heated during some games, especially come the knockout stages, when rash challenges went flying in. Arms were thrown, yellows were issued but the dust settled once more as the teams got on with playing football.

Despite the stars on show, however, perhaps the highlights of the weekend were the attention received and awareness raised by the Soccer Sevens come lunch time on both days. At noon on Saturday and Sunday, the Juniors tournament took place, with players from several age ranges from local football academies showcasing Hong Kong’s youth and future.

It was swiftly followed by an exhibition match between Hong Kong Football Club Crusaders – a programme for players with special needs – and the Hong Kong Down Syndrome Association’s Dragons. Both events were very well received by the fervent crowd, who applauded the participants as they left the pitch for the stars to take over once more.
 

Results and standings here: http://www.hksoccersevens.com/