http://www.hksoccersevens.com/news/item/leicester-lift-cup-stunning-final-triumph
Leicester lift Cup with stunning final triumph
Hong Kong, 26 May 2013 -
Leicester City won the Soccer Sevens for the first time when they stunned defending champions Newcastle United in the Cup final.
First-half goals from Michael Cain and Harry Panayiotou gave the Foxes a memorable 2-0 victory and brought to an end Newcastle’s 11-game winning streak in the tournament.
Leicester won the second-tier Shield on their first visit to Hong Kong 12 months ago but this year the Championship club upstaged their Premier League counterparts – who also included Manchester City and Aston Villa – to lift the Cup.
“We had the experience of playing in last year’s tournament and I think we also benefited from the freshness of the new players we brought this time,†said coach Jon Rudkin. “There are some excellent teams here so we’re delighted to be winning a tournament of this standard.â€
Leicester lost 2-0 to Newcastle in their group clash on Saturday and Rudkin said his team had used that experience to prepare for the final.
“We learnt a lot from that first game,†he revealed. “We were aware Newcastle had some excellent players and they’ve been tremendous in this tournament, not just this year but last year as well. But we knew the final was a one-off game so we just had to dig in and give it a go.â€
Rudkin paid tribute to 18-year-old striker Panayiotou, who scored five goals during the weekend and was named Player of the Tournament.
“He’s a strong boy, he’s hard to mark and he’s always going to go and get you goals. He’s done well here. But all the players have stood out with the way they have coped with the heat and competed so well in this tournament environment. I’m delighted with them.â€
Captain Alie Sesay hailed his teammates. “The average age of our team was about 18.4 years, so we were one of the youngest teams here,†he said. “Not only that, we were up against some big hitters like Manchester City and Aston Villa, which made us the underdogs, but we’ve proved ourselves. It doesn’t matter if you’re in the Premier League or not.
“We got off to a quick start in the final which was great for our belief. Michael Cain and Harry Panayiotou are quality players and when they got us ahead we grew in confidence.â€
After winning all six of their matches at the Soccer Sevens last year, Newcastle won their first five this time around but had no answer to Leicester’s flying start.
Coach Willie Donachie refused to be downhearted. “The first goal is important in a tournament like this and especially in a final,†he said. “But the players gave everything they had and hopefully they’ll learn from the experience.â€
Earlier, Leicester knocked out five-time Soccer Sevens winners Aston Villa with a thrilling 4-3 victory in extra time of their quarter-final.
Leicester raced into a three-goal lead thanks to Jak McCourt and a Panayiotou double before Villa replied with two goals from Jack Grealish, the second a penalty, and Jerell Sellars. But Leicester bounced back to win it with a golden goal from Cain.
Panayiotou was on target again to give the Foxes a 1-0 win over Sunderland in the semi-finals.
Rudkin praised Soccer Sevens organisers for their efforts in putting on the event, which was first played in 1999. “It’s an outstanding tournament. We’re very privileged to be invited and to be able to play here,†he said.
“We want to thank our owners for providing us with the opportunity to come to Hong Kong and we’d like to thank Hong Kong Football Club for putting on such a fantastic event. It’s certainly the best youth tournament that I’ve been involved in.â€
Squad: 1-Adam Smith, 2-Alie Sesay, 3-George Taft, 4-Jak McCourt, 5-Jamie Anton, 6-Robert Paratore, 7-Michael Cain, 8-Harry Panayiotou, 9-Jacob Blyth, 10-Tom Hopper.
Leicester lift Cup with stunning final triumph
Hong Kong, 26 May 2013 -
Leicester City won the Soccer Sevens for the first time when they stunned defending champions Newcastle United in the Cup final.
First-half goals from Michael Cain and Harry Panayiotou gave the Foxes a memorable 2-0 victory and brought to an end Newcastle’s 11-game winning streak in the tournament.
Leicester won the second-tier Shield on their first visit to Hong Kong 12 months ago but this year the Championship club upstaged their Premier League counterparts – who also included Manchester City and Aston Villa – to lift the Cup.
“We had the experience of playing in last year’s tournament and I think we also benefited from the freshness of the new players we brought this time,†said coach Jon Rudkin. “There are some excellent teams here so we’re delighted to be winning a tournament of this standard.â€
Leicester lost 2-0 to Newcastle in their group clash on Saturday and Rudkin said his team had used that experience to prepare for the final.
“We learnt a lot from that first game,†he revealed. “We were aware Newcastle had some excellent players and they’ve been tremendous in this tournament, not just this year but last year as well. But we knew the final was a one-off game so we just had to dig in and give it a go.â€
Rudkin paid tribute to 18-year-old striker Panayiotou, who scored five goals during the weekend and was named Player of the Tournament.
“He’s a strong boy, he’s hard to mark and he’s always going to go and get you goals. He’s done well here. But all the players have stood out with the way they have coped with the heat and competed so well in this tournament environment. I’m delighted with them.â€
Captain Alie Sesay hailed his teammates. “The average age of our team was about 18.4 years, so we were one of the youngest teams here,†he said. “Not only that, we were up against some big hitters like Manchester City and Aston Villa, which made us the underdogs, but we’ve proved ourselves. It doesn’t matter if you’re in the Premier League or not.
“We got off to a quick start in the final which was great for our belief. Michael Cain and Harry Panayiotou are quality players and when they got us ahead we grew in confidence.â€
After winning all six of their matches at the Soccer Sevens last year, Newcastle won their first five this time around but had no answer to Leicester’s flying start.
Coach Willie Donachie refused to be downhearted. “The first goal is important in a tournament like this and especially in a final,†he said. “But the players gave everything they had and hopefully they’ll learn from the experience.â€
Earlier, Leicester knocked out five-time Soccer Sevens winners Aston Villa with a thrilling 4-3 victory in extra time of their quarter-final.
Leicester raced into a three-goal lead thanks to Jak McCourt and a Panayiotou double before Villa replied with two goals from Jack Grealish, the second a penalty, and Jerell Sellars. But Leicester bounced back to win it with a golden goal from Cain.
Panayiotou was on target again to give the Foxes a 1-0 win over Sunderland in the semi-finals.
Rudkin praised Soccer Sevens organisers for their efforts in putting on the event, which was first played in 1999. “It’s an outstanding tournament. We’re very privileged to be invited and to be able to play here,†he said.
“We want to thank our owners for providing us with the opportunity to come to Hong Kong and we’d like to thank Hong Kong Football Club for putting on such a fantastic event. It’s certainly the best youth tournament that I’ve been involved in.â€
Squad: 1-Adam Smith, 2-Alie Sesay, 3-George Taft, 4-Jak McCourt, 5-Jamie Anton, 6-Robert Paratore, 7-Michael Cain, 8-Harry Panayiotou, 9-Jacob Blyth, 10-Tom Hopper.
