Young Foxes Edged In Hong Kong Soccer Sevens Final
Earlier on, the young Foxes defeated Brighton & Hove Albion 4-2 to set up the finale clash with Wolves, while they narrowly fell short in the Main Cup quarter-finals stage against Scottish side Rangers.
A seven-a-side contest staged below the stunning Happy Valley skyline, the Soccer Sevens is a fast-paced affair which has been a regular part of the Club’s late spring schedule since 2012.
On Saturday, Leicester were unbeaten winners of Group B, defeating Singapore Cricket Club and Aston Villa, while drawing with local side Kitchee, who eventually reached the Main Cup semi-finals.
City’s opening match on Sunday, meanwhile, was a Main Cup quarter-final against Rangers and they were ahead inside 60 seconds through a solo effort from Layton Ndukwu – the 100th goal of the competition.
The talented Foxes winger drove at the Gers' defence and slotted it into the bottom corner before an excellent curling effort from Ryan Loft made it 2-0 before half-time.
With matches extended by six minutes on Day 2 and with temperatures once again exceeding 30 degrees in Happy Valley, Rangers applied pressure on Leicester’s defence after the break.
It paid off for them as Cameron Parker halved the deficit before a wonderful free-kick from Stephen Kelly, five minutes from the end, took the tie to extra-time.
As per the rules, the teams were reduced to four players each and golden goal was in effect - and it was Rangers who took advantage as Josh Mcpake’s close-range finish settled the match.
However, that wasn’t the end of Leicester’s 2019 Soccer Sevens story as all losing Main Cup quarter-finalists were automatically entered into a group of four teams in the Main Shield.
Brighton & Hove Albion, a side who were earlier overcome by West Ham United, awaited the young Foxes in the Shield competition, which City have lifted twice before.
With two minutes played, Ndukwu caught the Seagulls' backline with a mazy run at goal, performing several step-overs along the way, before rattling the bar with a fearsome drive.
Leicester took a deserved lead midway through the first half as Ndukwu again charged at goal and dragged it back across the penalty area for captain Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall to convert.
They had another two-goal lead ahead of the interval as England Under-18s left-back Luke Thomas slid it in for Conor Tee, who took a touch and finished it confidently into the corner.
Jordan Davies, though, fired in a brilliant volley for Brighton on the cusp of half-time and George Cox converted a penalty in off the post to level the scores.
Determined not to surrender another lead, though, City hit back and made it 3-2 as Tee galloped down the left flank and capped off a tremendous individual goal with a smart finish.
Dennis Gyamfi, meanwhile, added a fourth for Leicester, converting a rebound from Dempsey Arlott-John’s low shot, to set up a Shield Final against Premier League rivals Wolves.
After Niall Ennis had put Wolves ahead after four minutes, City’s youngsters showed impressive mental strength to claw it back to 1-1 in sweltering conditions.
Dewsbury-Hall broke free of his man in the final moments of the first half and, while his shot was deflected onto the post, Loft was there to score his third goal of the tournament.
The contest ultimately went to extra-time and Ennis was the scorer of a golden goal which sealed victory for Wolves, denying Leicester a third Shield success at the Soccer Sevens.
Despite the disappointment of missing out on a piece of silverware in Hong Kong, City's youthful side can take heart from their performances at the end of a long season.
Sunday's results
Leicester City 2 Rangers 3 (AET)
Ndukwu 1’, Loft 7’
Leicester City 4 Brighton & Hove Albion 2
Dewsbury-Hall 6', Tee 9', 16', Gyamfi 18'
Leicester City 1 Wolves 2 (AET)
Loft 10’
Competition goalscorers
Ryan Loft - 3
Conor Tee - 3
Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall - 3
Layton Ndukwu - 1
Dennis Gyamfi - 1
For a guide to the HKFC Citi Soccer Sevens' rules, click HERE.
Stay tuned to LCFC.com and LCFC TV over the coming days for more highlights and reaction from Hong Kong ahead of the squad’s return to England later this week.