Rob Edwards’ side finished their group unbeaten with seven points from nine available and Ryan Giles scored a sudden death winner against Rangers to secure top spot.
In their first ever HKFC Citi Soccer Sevens fixture, Wolves enjoyed the perfect start to proceedings, defeating HKFA Red Dragons 2-1 in a game which had it all.
Niall Ennis had Edwards’ side ahead after just three minutes when he rounded the goalkeeper to convert, before Elliot Watt’s sensational effort from his own half caught out the stopper for 2-0.
Chang Kwong Yin’s smart finish pulled the Red Dragons back into proceedings and, once Andreas Sondergaard fouled his man inside the area, they should have levelled, but the goalkeeper redeemed himself to keep out Cheng Tsz Sum’s penalty.
Then came Wolves’ first dual with fellow British side, Rangers. Despite the game finishing goalless, there was no shortage of incident and entertainment, as the woodwork was struck on four occasions.
For Wolves, Watt fired against the post after linking with Ennis, before substitute Giles hit a vicious shot which clipped the top of the crossbar on the way over.
Winning ways returned in Wolves’ third fixture of the day however, as close-range finishes from Ennis and Carlos Heredia set up a sudden death clash with Rangers, after the two sides were unable to be separated in the race for top spot.
The four versus four, sudden death clash lasted just a matter of seconds and it was Wolves celebrating. Ennis wrestled his man from the drop ball and dragged beyond the same player before feeding Giles, who took his time to slot home the crucial deciding goal.
RESULTS
W 2-1 HKFA Red Dragons (Ennis 3’, Watt 8’)
D 0-0 Rangers
W 2-0 Hong Kong FC (Ennis 7’, Heredia 9’)
W 1-0 Rangers (Giles 1’)
NEXT UP
Giles’ sudden death goal puts Wolves into the quarter final with Kitchee of Hong Kong on Sunday morning (4.33am BST). Should Wolves progress, the semi-final and final will take places later in the day.
The full quarter final fixtures are as follows:
- West Ham United vs Brighton & Hove Albion
- Newcastle United vs Portimonese
- Leicester City vs Rangers
- Wolves vs Kitchee
