Hong Kong team Kitchee made history at the Hong Kong Football Club earlier today when then beat some of the top sides in Liverpool (England) and Rangers (Scotland) to advance to the Final against another Glasgow side, Celtic.

Kitchee completed a dream season when they beat Scottish giants Celtic 1-0 to win the HKFC Citibank International Soccer Sevens on Sunday (15 May).

Nine days after clinching the Hong Kong league title for the first time in 47 years, Kitchee delighted local fans by adding the Soccer Sevens crown.

Spanish striker Roberto Losada (pictured above) was their hero, scoring the only goal midway through the second half of the final at Hong Kong Football Club.

“It is a special year for us,” he said. “To win the league and then the Soccer Sevens for the first time is a dream come true. We can all go away on holiday now and be very happy with our season.

“We were confident coming into this tournament, although we knew it would be tough, especially against the English and Scottish teams. We played with 100 per cent commitment and we controlled the ball well in the final.”

The final was a tense affair with the teams evenly matched but, once Losada made the breakthrough, the seasoned professionals of Kitchee played out the game in comfort against a youthful Celtic side.

Kitchee became the first Hong Kong team to win the Soccer Sevens since Instant Dict beat Chelsea in 2000.

On a day of upsets at Hong Kong Football Club, Kitchee put paid to Scottish visitors Rangers and English giants Liverpool on their way to clinching the title.

An Ubay Luzardo penalty and a drive from Lam Ka Wai gave them a 2-0 win over Rangers in the quarter-finals.

They then stunned Liverpool – who had looked the tournament’s form team – with a 2-1 success in the semi-finals. Lo Kwan Yee put Kitchee ahead before the Reds’ Nathan Eccleston brought the scores level. But Liverpool’s army of Hong Kong fans were left disappointed when Jose Diaz popped up with the golden goal winner in extra time.

Kitchee celebrate winning the HKFC Citibank International Soccer Sevens after their 1-0 victory over Scottish giants Celtic on Sunday (15 May). Pic: John Donker/Hong Kong Football Club.

Glasgow Celtic won the HKFC IP Global International Soccer Sevens for the first time on Sunday (May 31) with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over arch rivals Rangers. 

Glasgow Celtic display the trophy after winning the HKFC IP Global International Soccer Sevens at Hong Kong Football Club on Sunday, May 31.

A second-half strike from Paul McGowan was enough to secure the trophy in front of a near-capacity crowd at Hong Kong Football Club. 

“It was a fantastic spectacle and both teams played the game to win,” said Celtic manager Willie McStay. “There were plenty of incidents and both teams had their chances, so it was a great game for the fans.

“It’s my third year here – we lost in the semi-finals two years ago, lost in the final last year and now we’ve won it, so I’m absolutely delighted.  We have a great record against Rangers at youth and reserve level and it’s always sweet to beat them.”

McGowan struck shortly after half-time following brilliant approach work from flying winger Niall McGinn. 

Rangers – missing captain Andrew Shinnie through suspension after he picked up two yellow cards earlier in the day – fought back but Archie Campbell missed a simple chance to equalise in the final minute after a goalmouth scramble.

McStay was full of praise for the Soccer Sevens as a development tool for young players.  “Players have to think, keep the ball, show good movement and be patient. It’s a lot of the same things they have to do in 11-a-side but here there’s no room for error.

“I think it’s a fantastic format and a great experience for these young players. Some of them have never been outside Britain, never mind Europe.” 

Celtic’s road to the final began with a 3-1 quarter-final victory over Hong Kong side Citizen, with captain Ryan Conroy and Mark Millar (2) on target. Then a Conroy penalty secured a 1-0 win over the Australian U18s national team in a hard-fought semi-final.

Rangers beat West Ham United 2-1 in a thrilling quarter-final that was settled by Steven Lennon’s golden goal winner in extra time.  They then knocked out holders Aston Villa with an outstanding 3-1 semi-final victory. Goals from Shinnie, Rory Loy and Lennon put Rangers in command before Villa’s Marc Albrighton replied, but the holders were unable to mount a comeback.

In the Masters competition, Golden Rainbow, a team comprising former Hong Kong league professionals, won the Cup with a 2-1 victory over charity side Football For Life. 

Lee Fuk Wing put Golden Rainbow ahead in the first half but former France international Didier Six scored a late equaliser with a diving header.

That sent the game into four-a-side sudden-death extra time and Yeung Kin Keung’s spectacular volley won it for Golden Rainbow with just seconds remaining. 

Golden Rainbow had earlier beaten the IP Global All Stars 1-0 with an extra time golden goal from Lau Chi Yuen.  The Cup success delighted Golden Rainbow coach Simon Wong. “It’s great to see this team of local players and friends enjoying the tournament and playing in such a great atmosphere,” he said.

“We’ve played in this tournament for many years and we know that when it comes to four against four, you have to use your goalkeeper as an outfield player so you can keep possession.” 

Defeat in the semi-final came as a shock to the IP Global All Stars – who included former England internationals Des Walker, Rob Lee and Chris Powell and ex-Scotland striker Gordon Durie in their line-up – as they had not conceded a goal in the tournament until that point.

“We probably did enough to win the game, so we’re disappointed,” said captain Walker. “We’re all ex-professionals and we came here to win.

“But it’s a fantastic tournament, it’s really well organised and they look after the players. We’ve thoroughly enjoyed ourselves and Hong Kong is a great city.”

Celtic legend Danny McGrain is hoping his team can go one better than last year’s runners-up spot when they compete in this weekend’s HKFC IP Global International Soccer Sevens.

(Pic: The Evening Times) 

The Scottish giants lost 2-0 to English rivals Aston Villa in the 2008 final of the popular Hong Kong tournament.  They will be aiming to improve on that when the 2009 edition is staged at Hong Kong Football Club from Friday to Sunday.

“Villa had that little bit extra last year and the better team won,” admitted McGrain, assistant to Celtic squad manager Willie McStay.  “We’re in a tough group this year so our priority is to make sure we qualify for the Cup on Sunday and then we’ll take it from there.”

Celtic have unearthed plenty of stars in the years they have been competing in the Soccer Sevens, including current first team captain Steve McManus, John Kennedy, Shaun Maloney and Liam Miller.

This year they have high hopes for flying winger Niall McGinn. The 21-year-old, already a Northern Ireland international, was signed from Derry City last December.  “He’s got pace to burn and can play on the right or left,” said McGrain, one of the all-time great fullbacks who played 663 games for Celtic and earned 62 Scotland caps.

“In the past we’ve brought quite a few young players over here who have progressed to the first team. This is our seventh year of competing here and it’s always been enjoyable. Everyone back home speaks very highly of the tournament.”

Arch rivals Rangers are also competing in the 32-team Soccer Sevens while other leading contenders include Villa, West Ham United and Birmingham City.

Villa, who will be going for their third Cup victory in a row and fifth overall, have included two key members of last year’s winning team, Player of the Tournament Barry Bannon and Marc Albrighton, who scored against Celtic in the final.

Since it was first held in 1999, the tournament – sanctioned by the Hong Kong Football Association – has developed into the world’s premier seven-a-side soccer event.

The Main competition has become famous for unearthing the “stars of tomorrow” while the Masters section features former elite players from Europe’s top leagues.

All eyes in this year’s Masters competition will be on the IP Global All Stars, who will feature former England internationals Des Walker, Rob Lee and Chris Powell, ex-Scotland striker Gordon Durie and former Northern Ireland midfielder Steve Lomas.

Further star appeal comes in the shape of current Premier League referee Mike Riley, who is officiating at the tournament.

Riley will take charge of four matches in the first two days – Football For Life v HKFC Veterans on Friday (7:48pm kickoff), followed by West Ham v Australian U18s (2:18pm), Eastleigh FC v Yau Yee League Select (5:18pm) and Villa v Birmingham (7:42pm), all on Saturday. He will also referee matches on Sunday.