Juventus and Manchester City fail to impress at Hong Kong Stadium
Fans of Juventus and Manchester City would have been deeply disappointed last Thursday when both leading European sides lost to local opposition at the Hong Kong Stadium.
South China Invitation team defeated the top-flight English club City 3-1, while domestic champions South China edged former Italian Serie A champions Juventus 2-1 at the Cash 10th Anniversary Soccer Day.
Juventus arrived in Hong Kong without striker Alessandro Del Piero and midfielder Pavel Nedved. Del Piero was included in Italy's provisional squad for Euro 2008, while Nedved was reported to be suffering from an ankle injury.
South China convenor, Steven Lo Kit-shing, was disappointed by their absence. 'I will offer hefty prize money for my players to beat them and show them how seriously we are taking the match,' Lo said before the friendly games.
It was a sad ending for China international Sun Jihai who was playing his last match for City after more than six years with the English Premier League club.
Sun led the side last Thursday but their performance was far from satisfactory. Lacking aggression and coupled with their loose defence, city were soundly beaten by the South China Invitation team.