Aston Villa lifted the HKFC Citi Soccer Sevens Cup for a tournament-leading sixth time as a 2-0 final victory over West Ham United on Sunday completed a 100% record, while English Premier League winners Leicester City and Stoke City also claimed silverware at Hong Kong Football Club.
Goals from the competition’s top scorer Harry McKirdy and striker Rushian Hepburn-Murphy secured Aston Villa their first HKFC Citi Soccer Sevens title since claiming their then record fifth in 2010.
Aston Villa are the Cup Final Winners of the Main tournament of the Aston Villa are the Cup Final Winners of the Main tournament of the HKFC Citi Soccer Sevens on 22 May 2016 in the Hong Kong Footbal Club, Hong Kong, China. Photo by Li Man Yuen / Power Sport Images
Gordon Cowans’ Aston Villa won all three games in the group stage on Saturday before returning in fine form on Sunday to see off Japan’s Kashima Antlers 3-1 in the last eight and defeat New Zealand’s Wellington Phoenix 2-0 in the semi-finals before condemning West Ham to a second successive final defeat.
Leicester suffered a 2-1 defeat to Wellington in the quarter-finals, but went on to claim a penalty shootout victory over Kashima in the semi-finals of the Shield before winning the second-tier competition following a thrilling 3-2 victory over Hong Kong Premier League champions Eastern.
And after being eliminated in the group stage on Saturday, Stoke rebounded on Sunday to claim the Plate. Meanwhile, in the Masters Tournament, Citi All Stars wrapped up their first ever title with a 3-1 victory. Finally, Yau Yee League Masters defeated Kowloon Cricket Club Veterans on penalties after a goalless draw in the final to lift the Masters Plate.
Reference: Lagardere Sports
Photo: Lagardere Sports
