Brighton & Hove Albion are threatening to create a HKFC Standard Chartered Soccer Sevens dynasty after overcoming Yokohama F Marinos 2-0 on Sunday to claim their second title in three years.
In a one-sided final, forward Tyler Silsby scored the first goal in the sixth minute inside the goal of Yokohama goalkeeper Go Saita. Midway through the second half, Saita let Jesse Middleton’s long strike slip through his arm.
Having lost in last year’s final to AZ Alkmaar, Brighton also won the competition in 2024.
“The club really appreciates this competition, and there is pressure from within to win here,” Lorenz Ferdinand, Brighton’s goalkeeper, said. “The gaffer (Shannon Ruth) demands a lot, and we expect a lot from us.”
Ferdinand said his father, former Manchester United and England defender Rio Ferdinand, had been watching online. “He’s been giving me a few pointers, especially when I was trying to defend outside my gate,” the 18-year-old said.
With wins in all three of their group games on Saturday, Brighton began Sunday by beating Rangers 2-0 in their quarter-final. In the last four, they recovered from 1-0 down to beat Alkmaar 2-1 and avenge their heartache from 12 months ago.
