Tag: Football

HK Soccer Sevens @ HK Football Club – 18 May, 2019

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There was plenty of good football, cracking goals and wonderful goal line clearances at the Twentieth Anniversary Hong Kong Soccer Sevens being held at the HK Football Club. bc was there to capture the action.
Click here or on any photo for a full gallery of images.

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Soccer Sevens Celebrates Twenty Anniversary

Seven-a-side football might not have become an Olympic sport and global sensation like it’s rugby namesake, but the Hong Kong Soccer 7s – which celebrates it’s Twentieth Anniversary this year on 17-19 May – has become an important tournament for clubs and players across the globe.

The twentieth tournament sees newcomers Fulham and Portimonense face off in the group stage. The English and Portuguese sides will be joined in Group A by competition regulars West Ham United and local outfit HKFC Captain’s Select for the tournament.

Newcastle United begin the defence of their title, having beaten Rangers in the 2018 final, alongside Brighton & Hove Albion, current AFC Champions League holders Kashima Antlers from Japan and Hong Kong side Yau Yee League Select in Group C.

Six-time winners Aston Villa will go head-to-head with two-time champions Leicester City in Group B in a repeat of the 2017 final, with the duo joined by nine-time Hong Kong champions Kitchee and Singapore Cricket Club.

Finally, in Group D, Rangers return in search of their maiden title against newcomers Wolverhampton Wanderers, HKFA Red Dragons and Hong Kong Football Club in Group D.

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“The group that intrigues me the most is Group A in the Main tournament which sees West Ham, who are always a strong side, and two newcomers in Portimonense and Fulham, so who knows how strong they’ll be,” said HKFC Soccer Sevens Tournament Director Chris Plowman. “They’re going to be going up against our HKFC Captain’s Select team, so if there’s a group of death, I’m guessing that’s the one.

“Leicester and Villa in the same group will be interesting and Kitchee as a local side are always very strong. Singapore Cricket Club have got some tough matches on their hands.”

“It’s wonderful.” said Hong Kong national team coach and former Finland international Mixu Paatelainen “There’s history to this tournament and you can see there are big clubs from England taking part.” Mixu added “the tournament will be valuable for Hong Kong’s youngsters to play against hopefully the future stars of the Premier League.”

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In the Masters tournament, defending champions Discovery Bay have been paired in Group A with two-time winners Citi All Stars, last year’s runners-up Nottingham Forest Mobsters, HKFC Chairman’s Select and Singapore Cricket Club Masters.

In Group B, meanwhile, playonPROS will play competition regulars Wallsend Boys Club, and Hong Kong sides Eleven FC, HKFC Masters and Kowloon Cricket Club Veterans.

“It is a very exciting draw and you can see from the line-up it will be very fierce competition,” said Wayne Fong of sponsors Citi Hong Kong. “We like that the tournament changes every year and invites teams from all over the world to make it more diverse, allowing this tournament to be better and bigger.”

Soccer Sevens
Date: 17-19 May, 2019
Venue: HK Football Club
Tickets: $300 (Weekend pass), $160 (Day ticket), Free (Friday night)
More info:
17 May (Fri): 6 – 9pm; exhibition youth matches start at 4.45pm
18 May (Sat): 9am – 7.40pm
19 May (Sun): 9am – 6pm

Additional reporting and images: HKFA Soccer Sevens

Ching Hang Chun Joins Swansea City Ladies

Hong Kong international midfielder Ching Hang Chun has signed with Swansea City Ladies and will play in the Welsh Premier Women’s League for the three-time champions.

Chun’s transfer from Kitchee SC sees her become the first Hong Kong lady to play professionally in Europe. With 16 caps to her name since making her debut in 2013, Chun was an integral part of Hong Kong’s recent Asian Cup campaign, scoring in a 6-1 victory over Tajikistan.

“It’s a huge honour to be able to join Swansea,” said Chun after putting pen to paper. “The opportunity to play overseas, especially for one of the top teams in Wales, is something that does not happen easily. I am very grateful to everyone that has made this dream come true, especially Ian for giving me a chance.” Chun continued “I can’t wait to work hard, learn and hopefully give a challenge to the other girls.”

 

Kitchee Claim First Ever ACL Win

Kitchee became the first Hong Kong team to win a match in the AFC Champions League when in dramatic fashion with a goal in the 93 minute they beat Japan’s Kashiwa Reysol 1-0 at the Hong Kong Stadium.

Kitchee academy graduate Cheng Chin Lung, an 80th minute substitute, was the hero… Deep in stoppage time the 20 year-old picked up the ball on right side of the penalty area, moved the ball onto his left foot and curled a spectacular shot into the top left hand corner of the net. A goal worthy of an historic achievement.

“I always remember my father’s words: ‘If you do not shoot, you will never score,” said Cheng after the match. “I need to thank him, as he always encourages me to play better and to shoot more.”

Watch the match highlights here

https://youtu.be/zfRrdwyF5X0

Lunar New Year Cup

Lunar New Year Cup
Date: 4pm, 5 February, 2019
Venue: HK Stadium
Tickets: $480, $280, $180 from Cityline
More info:
4pm – Shandong Luneng Taishai FC v Auckland City FC
18:15pm – Hong Kong CNY Selection Team v Sagan Tosu

Hong Kong Win HK-Guangdong Cup 4-2 on Penalties

Tse Long-hin scored the crucial penalty as Hong Kong won the 40th Hong Kong-Guangdong Cup 4-2 on penalties. After winning the first leg 2-0 at the HK Stadium on the 4 January, Hong Kong lost the second leg away as Guangdong reversed the score at home as they triumphed 2-0 in Guangzhou.

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With the match all square after normal time goalkeeper Douglas Yuen Ho-chun – who made several fine saves during the game – was the star in the penalty shoot-out saving twice as Hong Kong won 4-2 and regained the Guangdong-Hong Kong Cup for the first time in five years.

“The boys performed really well under the circumstances,” said interim Hong Kong coach Kenneth Kwok Ka-lok. “We are a young side and some of the players were suffering from injuries and even illness so that made it more difficult. But we had fire in our bellies and we handled the pressure, even in the penalty shootout where we held our own. We rose to the occasion. It wasn’t an easy thing to do.”