Fans cheer for global football icons as World Legends beat Hong Kong 7-3 in Lunar New Year Cup

Fans’ high hopes of seeing football icons play finally came true on Tuesday as they revisited the Hong Kong Stadium for the 2024 FWD Lunar New Year Cup, where a star-studded World Legends team beat Hong Kong Legends 7-3. 

All 17 stars featured in the World Legends team played today, including Brazilian World Cup winner Rivaldo, former Barcelona captain Carles Puyol, Spanish World Cup winner David Villa, and former AS Roma captain Francesco Totti. 

World Legends dominated possession in the first half and Rivaldo opened the scoring just eight minutes in as he answered to a clever pass by Alessandro Del Piero. 

Former Barcelona and Atletico Madrid striker David Villa almost added a second four minutes later in the six-yard box but his shot was blocked by Hong Kong’s Fan Chun-yip. 

World Legends’ lead was extended in the 20th minute as an unmarked Totti down the right wing fired a low shot past Fan. Villa also tried a beautiful lob shot two minutes later but was parried by Fan. 

The gap between the two sides further widened to 3-0 after Valencia’s icon Gaizka Mendieta dribbled past Fan and scored an open goal. 

Hong Kong’s first shot on target came from Eastern District’s Chan Wai-ho in the 34th minute but his attempt was stopped by former Manchester City and Liverpool keeper David James. Au Wai-lun won a free kick three minutes later but the shot by Chu Siu-kei went above the crossbar. 

Rivaldo scored his second goal for today just before half time, perfectly curling the ball straight to the top-left corner with his left foot. 

Hong Kong scored their first goal nine minutes into the second half, with Leung Chun-pong blasting the ball into the net after Lee Hong-lim’s shot was rejected by the post. 

Villa finally scored in the 63rd minute as his shot was deflected off So Wai-chuen while substitute keeper Yapp hung-fai stayed rooted in front of the goal. 

World Legends saw their sixth goal come in after France and Arsenal’s great Robert Pires lobbed the ball over Yapp and landed inside the goal. 

Left-winger Lee guided a powerful shot to the far post in the 76th minute and Villa scored his second goal three minutes later after his shot hit the post and rebounded off Yapp.

A stunning straight ball by Au Yeung Yiu-chung found Christian Annan who tapped the ball past Júlio César as the match entered stoppage time, marking the tenth and final goal for the day. 

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