Big breakthrough

Brighton stunned defending champions Aston Villa a 2-0 in the final of the HKFC Standard Chartered Soccer Sevens at Hong Kong Football Club last night as the English Premier League club claimed the trophy for the first time.

A goal in each half from Louis Flower and Benicio Baker-Boaitey sealed victory for Brighton, who stopped Villa from winning a record-extending eighth title in the 25th-anniversary edition of the competition.

"This has topped off our season to be honest," said Baker-Boaitey. "Last year, we came here and lost in the semi-finals, so our gaffer told us if we were to come here this year, we had to bring the trophy home."

Flower put Brighton in front in the seventh minute when he shot across Villa goalkeeper James Wright, and Baker-Boaitey put the result beyond doubt when he rounded Wright to score with less than five minutes left.

"I was struggling with an injury but I asked if I could have the last five minutes to see if I could change the game," said Baker-Boaitey.

"I wasn't thinking of going around the 'keeper, but I saw he was spread out already so I went around him and it was good to get the goal."

Brighton squeezed into the quarter-finals with a golden goal-win over Japan's Yokohama F Marinos in the group phase. They then saw off Leicester City before beating Fulham in the semi-finals.

Chelsea Soccer School won the first-ever women's tournament, defeating Kitchee 3-2 in a penalty shootout after the match ended goalless.

"We've made history," said Chelsea captain Yazmin Sung. "It feels amazing."

In the Masters tournament, the PFA All Stars won the title for the first time since 2017 when Leroy Lita scored both goals in a 2-1 win over the Singapore Football Club Masters.