HKFC Citi Soccer Sevens

The HKFC Citi Soccer Sevens: Everything You Need To Know

Ten of Leicester City’s youngsters are in Hong Kong this weekend to compete in the HKFC Citi Soccer Sevens, a seven-a-side competition in Happy Valley (18-19 May).
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In 2017, the Foxes returned to the United Kingdom as Main Cup champions after defeating then-holders Aston Villa 3-0 in the Final at the home of Hong Kong Football Club.

A year later, meanwhile, City's youngsters were denied a second successive final appearance by Newcastle United, who eventually went on to lift the trophy.

With the class of 2019 now approaching this summer's contest, LCFC.com has produced a guide of everything the Blue Army needs to know ahead of Day 1 on Saturday…

Who has been named in the Leicester squad?

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City's Youngsters Head Out To Hong Kong

Leicester City's youngsters left England on Tuesday ready for the HKFC Citi Soccer Sevens in Hong Kong later this week.

The Foxes have travelled with a talented squad, including Sweden Under-21s goalkeeper Viktor Johansson and England Under-18s left-back Luke Thomas.

Academy stars Dennis Gyamfi and Justen Kranthove complete the defensive options at the disposal of Development Squad coaches Steve Beaglehole and Ben Petty.

Captain Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall is joined in midfield by Layton Ndukwu, Sidnei Tavares and Conor Tee, while Dempsey Arlott-John and Ryan Loft are also attacking options.

How are the Foxes doing?

Video

Youthful Foxes Squad Touch Down In Hong Kong

Leicester City's youngsters are now in Hong Kong and ready for the weekend's HKFC Citi Soccer Sevens contest.

Leicester City's youngsters secured seven points from three matches to emerge from Group B and qualify for the quarter-finals of the HKFC Citi Soccer Sevens Main Cup on Saturday.

However, they lost 3-2 to Rangers in the last-eight, meaning they faced - and defeated - Brighton and Hove Albion in the semi-finals of the Main Shield competition.

City were narrowly defeated 2-1 by Wolverhampton Wanderers in extra-time during the final.

Results

Leicester City 2 Singapore Cricket Club 0
Leicester City 1 Kitchee 1
Leicester City 1 Aston Villa 0
Leicester City 2 Rangers 3 (AET)
Leicester City 4 Brighton & Hove Albion 2
Leicester City 1 Wolverhampton Wanderers 2 (AET)

How have City fared in the past?

Video

Hong Kong Citi Soccer Sevens 2018 Recap

All the best moments from Leicester City's one-week stay in Hong Kong for the Soccer Sevens...

Leicester have won the Main Cup twice, in 2013 and 2017, while also lifting the Shield in 2012 and 2016, alongside one Plate win in 2014.

How does the competition work?

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'Massive' Soccer Sevens Test Excites Dewsbury-Hall

LCFC TV were there as Leicester City Development Squad midfielder Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall launched the HKFC Citi Soccer Sevens in Hong Kong on Thursday.

The Main Cup tournament, of which Leicester will be a part, comprises of 16 teams and will be played initially on a group stage basis ahead of knockout rounds on Sunday.

Leicester will face Singapore Cricket Club, Kitchee and Aston Villa once across Day 1.

The top two teams in each group will proceed to the quarter-finals of the Main Cup knockout round while the third and fourth teams will go on to the quarter-finals of the Main Plate.

The Main Shield knockout competition will be contested by the losing quarter-finalists in the Main Cup knockout competition and will only consist of semi-finals and a final.

What happens in the knockout phase?

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Beaglehole: Soccer Sevens Crucial To A Player's Development

Development Squad coach Steve Beaglehole says this year's HKFC Citi Soccer Sevens squad can take confidence from past successes.

In the event of a draw at the final whistle of any knockout game in the Main Cup and Shield competitions, extra-time will be played.

Extra-time will be a sudden-death play-off between four players from each of the two teams for a time period of up to a maximum of four minutes with the ‘golden goal’ rule.

Any four players from the registered squad of 10 can be selected to start in the sudden-death extra-time period.

If there has been a red card, the team will name a replacement, while the other side will carry forward a one-man advantage in the extra-time enabling them to field five players instead of four.

Substitutions are not permitted within the period of sudden-death extra-time apart from in the event of an injury to a player.

The kick-off in a sudden-death playoff will be by way of a ‘drop-ball’ at the centre line. If there is no score at the end of the four minutes, the winner will be decided by penalty kicks.

What about the game structure?

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Training Special: HKFC Citi Soccer Sevens Day 1

Leicester City's Development Squad acclimatised to the Hong Kong heat with a light training session on Thursday morning.

Each group stage fixture will last seven minutes per period, with a one-minute break for half-time.

In the knockout phase of the Main Cup and Shield competitions, however, all games will last 10 minutes each half with a two-minute interval.

All finals of all competitions – Main Cup, Main Shield, Main Plate – will last 10 minutes each half with a three-minute break.

The tournament comprises of matches between teams of seven players per side on a pitch that is approximately 90 metres in length by 55 metres in width.

There shall be no application of the offside law.

How can you get updates?

Video

Johansson Trains With Local Goalkeeper In Hong Kong

Development Squad goalkeeper Viktor Johansson was joined by local shot-stopper Freddie Toomer in training for the HKFC Citi Soccer Sevens.

The Club's social media channels will be the best place to follow updates from Hong Kong, with regular updates and daily reports being posted throughout both days. 

Keep an eye on LCFC.com over the coming days for more news about how you can stay up-to-date on City's progress in Hong Kong!

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