Hong Kong Soccer Sevens: West Ham United, Wolves and Fulham shine at Hong Kong Soccer Sevens

There was nowhere to hide on the pitch at Hong Kong Football Club during Saturday’s HKFC Citi Soccer Sevens. The sun was beating down and thanks to the humidity the high of 31 degrees Celsius felt several degrees warmer. Many of the masters players who had jetted in from Europe looked noticeable red faced and still acclimatising to a first experience of playing in Hong Kong. One man who might have been prepared was Ben Chorley. The former Arsenal trainee scored a brace for the Citi All Stars in a 5-0 win over Singapore Cricket Club Masters – the biggest win of the day. It was some way to mark his return to Hong Kong. Chorley played here in the main tournament as an academy player and now he is back in the Masters, becoming the first player to appear in both sides of the tournament. Sweltering conditions are not ideal for the fast-paced frenetic football that is often needed to thrive in sevens. However, it might have made for more mistakes that can decide matches. Misplaced passes, miskicks and lapses in concentration as the day wore on a spate of penalty kicks. It guaranteed that the fans were entertained. HIGHLIGHTS @Wolves @WolvesAcademy secured top spot in Group D of the @hksoccers Main Cup after edging out @RangersFC @RFC_Youth in a sudden-death play-off #hksoccer7s pic.twitter.com/hdIJ2ZwoBM — HK Soccer Sevens (@hksoccer7s) May 18, 2019 There was respite for the fans who had turned up in their hundreds to watch and enjoy an afternoon of drinking. Hong Kong’s football fans took it as an opportunity to get a glimpse of their former favourites with a number sporting jerseys of their idols. A Grant Holt Norwich City shirt and a Jari Litmanen Barcelona top were a nod to the diversity of the Sevens. Others were there to cheer on the stars of the future. West Ham United’s contingent were in full voice with the main stand doing a fine impression of the London Stadium as they belted out the club anthem, “I’m Forever Blowing Bubbles”. HIGHLIGHTS @FulhamFC claimed a first @hksoccer7s win with a 5-0 victory over @hkfcsoccer Captain's Select #hksocer7s pic.twitter.com/Y8TvfdV22F — HK Soccer Sevens (@hksoccer7s) May 18, 2019 Club legend Carlton Cole is among the academy coaching staff and he was serenaded by the West Ham faithful. Much like the other former professionals, Cole was happy to take time out for selfies and signatures with Hong Kong’s Hammers. Soccer Sevens organisers silent over Peter Beardsley’s absence amid FA probe into bullying and racist language Those fans had reason to be bubbly. The young West Ham side lit up the main tournament with a 4-1 win over hosts Hong Kong Football Club, a score only bettered by Fulham’s 5-0 demolition of the hosts in the final sevens game of the day. The action heated up as the temperature cooled down. A later game, an all-London affair against Fulham, was the most full blooded of the day and ended in another West Ham win. Fulham and Portimonense both made their debuts at the tournament, playing each other. HIGHLIGHTS @Wolves @WolvesAcademy secured top spot in Group D after beating @hkfcsoccer 2-0 @hksoccer7s #hksoccer7s pic.twitter.com/LPtP2cBwuj — HK Soccer Sevens (@hksoccer7s) May 18, 2019 The Portuguese side went unbeaten and even recorded their first win of the day over HKFC’s Captain Select thanks to a Sergio Assis goal. The other debutants at this year’s tournament, Wolves, also got off to a winning start. Although that too was not without incident. Wolves keeper Andreas Sondergaard was booked for giving a penalty away which he then saved, diving low to his right to keep out Cheng Tsz-sum’s effort. The Wofoo Tai Po player was unable to salvage a comeback draw for the HKFA Red Dragons against the English Premier League outfit. That was their best chance for a point as it turned out as they went on to lose all their games but their goalkeeper Lam Chun-kit did save a penalty in their loss to Rangers. The last action of the day was the drama of a four-on-four to decide who from the Scots and Wolves would top their group. It was won by Wolves, settled by a finish from the fittingly named Cody Drameh inside 10 seconds. Messi, Ronaldo and Pogba: World Cup-winner Marcel Desailly talks Champions League ahead of Hong Kong Soccer Sevens There was plenty of incident throughout the day. Hong Kong’s Yau Yee Select side needed a golden goal game to decide their group placing with Kashima Antlers and it came from their goalkeeper. In the Masters tournament reigning champions Discovery Bay and their Brazilian contingent had their goalkeeper sent off against Citi All Stars. The loss meant that Nottingham Forest Mobsters proceed through to Sunday’s Cup and a chance of silverware, a fact which their fans celebrated noisily. Citi All Stars recorded the biggest win of the day in the Masters tournament with a 5-0 win over Singapore Cricket Club Masters. They look like they want to claim back the title they lost last year. Hopefully those players and Hong Kong football fans have left something in the tanks for Sunday when the real action begins.