GRACE CITIZEN ON TOP IN FIRST WOMEN'S TOURNAMENT AT HKFC STANDARD CHARTERED SOCCER SEVENS
Grace Citizen made a perfect start to the inaugural Women's Tournament at the HKFC Standard Chartered Soccer Sevens at Hong Kong Football Club on Friday as the event kicked off its 25th anniversary celebrations by taking a step into a new era.
A 1-0 win against Wofoo Social Enterprises in their opener was followed by a 5-0 victory over Macau Football Association to put Grace Citizen on top of Group B with the tournament's only perfect record with one round of matches remaining.
"We are aiming to get the top spot so we can go through (to the semi-finals)," said Chung Yee Sin, who scored Grace Citizen's winner in their defeat of Wofoo Social Enterprises.
"We played well and did what our coach asked us, so we're happy. It was amazing to score in the first game, to get the goal and to get the three points.
"This is the first time for the girls to play in this competition and it's interesting and amazing for Hong Kong women's football. It's a big step.
"We play Hong Kong Football Club next, and we will try to the end to finish on top. We want to have a good performance; that's our target, and to win the tournament."
Eight matches in the first-ever women's competition in the event's history were played on Friday with Grace Citizen leading Group B by two points from Hong Kong Football Club Women's Team with the sides to face one another on Saturday.
Wofoo Social Enterprises are in third with one point while Macau Football Association have yet to register a point after back-to-back losses.
In Group A, Chelsea FC Soccer School lead Soar 247 FC on goal-difference with both clubs on four points from their opening two games, two ahead of Kitchee SC with Sha Tin Sports Association on zero. The top two finishers in each group advance to the semi-finals.
The Master's Tournament also kicked off at Sports Road with two-time defending champions Wallsend Boys Club HK winning 2-0 against Kowloon Cricket Club Vets in their Group B opener. Wallsend sit level on three points with Singapore Football Club, who won 1-0 in their first game against Singapore Cricket Club Masters.
In Group A, former champions Ampcontrol Discovery Bay made a disappointing start to their challenge with a 2-0 loss against HKFC Masters, while PFA All Stars, led by former Portugal winger Luis Boa-Morte, registered a 2-1 win over the HKFC Chairman's Select.
"It's getting harder and harder as I'm not getting any younger," said Boa-Morte.
"The first game is always the toughest one to get into, and you start expressing yourself from there on.
"Today, we started by conceding a goal, but we knew we had to remain calm and we would turn things around, and that's what we did. No one likes to lose."
The Main Event begins on Saturday morning when 16 teams, including defending champions Aston Villa as well as former winners Leicester City and Newcastle United, begin their challenge for the 2024 HKFC Standard Chartered Soccer Sevens title.
Group matches will be played throughout Saturday before the knockout rounds are held on Sunday, when the champions of the Main Event, the Women's Tournament and the Master's Tournament will be crowned.
Photos - HKFC Standard Chartered Soccer