USRC – BTS lift the Masters Cup at the HKFC Citibank Soccer Sevens. Photos: Power Sport Images for HKFC.
May 31, 2015: USRC – BTS lifted the Masters Cup at the third time of trying with a 2-1 win over Wallsend Boys Club of Newcastle in the penultimate match of the day.
USRC took the lead through 35-year-old Daniel Lins Cortes, formerly of Wellington Phoenix. Former Leeds United striker Michael Bridges equalised for Wallsend before Paolo Henrique eventually scored the winner for the Kowloon-based club.
Capone, who helped Galatasaray win the 2000 UEFA Cup, captained a squad dominated by former and current Brazilian pros, including former Hong Kong captain Cristiano Cordeiro. Both were also part of the squad that lost to Ajax All Stars after extra-time in last year’s final.
USRC on their way to beating Wallsend Boys Club 2-1 in the Masters final.
“We came very close last year, but we couldn’t make it,” Cordeiro said. “We decided that this would be our year, so it means a lot for us to win it. We trained very hard, then suffered some injuries, so we had to overcome that.
“I thought the final was a very exciting game; a really, really exciting final. It’s a nice rivalry with Wallsend because we played them in the group stage and we played them twice last year.”
BC Rangers of the Hong Kong Premier League won the second-tier Plate with a 3-1 win over Yau Yee League Select.
Jason Eng, Han Jae-woong and Chuck Yiu-kwok all scored for BC Rangers, while Luca Merlone smashed in a spectacular goal for Yau Yee League Select, who reached the final by knocking out five-time champions Aston Villa in the semis with a 7-6 penalty shootout victory after a 2-2 draw in regulation time.
BC Rangers beat Yau Yee League Select 3-1 to win the second-tier Shield in the Main Tournament.
Yau Yee League Select, representing Hong Kong’s top amateur league, had earlier upset the seedings in Saturday’s group stage when they beat Stoke City (2-0) and HKFA U-20 (2-1), and even led Atletico Madrid before losing 2-1.
Hosts Hong Kong Football Club won the third-tier Plate by beating 2013 Cup winners Leicester City on penalties after a scoreless draw in the final.
KCC Veterans won the first trophy of the day by beating HKFC Chairman’s Select 3-1 in the Masters Plate final. Marcel Sossnowski, former Scottish pro James Grady and Ian Nelson all scored as Kowloon Cricket Club regained the silverware they first won in 2009.