AC MILAN WIN HONG KONG FOOTBALL FESTIVAL – THE STANDARD CHARTERED TROPHY IN FRONT OF LARGEST CROWD TO EVER WATCH A LIVE FOOTBALL MATCH IN HONG KONG
History was made on Saturday when AC Milan defeated Liverpool FC 4-2 to lift The Standard Chartered Trophy, kicking off the Hong Kong Football Festival in front of a raucous record crowd of 49,704 fans who raised the roof inside the Kai Tak Stadium.
A thrilling encounter from two international football giants had the faithful roaring their approval at every touch as the Italians turned on the style with two goals from Noah Okafor, and contributions from Rafael Leão and Ruben Loftus-Cheek, while Liverpool's Dominik Szoboszlai and Cody Gakpo also got on the score sheet.
The fans came with banners, they came with scarves and flags, and they came with songs in their hearts as international club football marked a triumphant debut at the venue that has strengthened Hong Kong's position as Asia's hub for hosting international events.
Never before had so many fans gathered to watch football in Hong Kong – and the occasion wasn't lost on the players, either, as they saluted those gathered after the final whistle had sounded.
AC Milan coach Max Allegri was suitably impressed. "It was a wonderful evening," said Allegri.
"There were about 50,000 spectators at the stadium. It was a great game. The structure of the stadium, the architecture of the stadium is something new for me and I really enjoy the experience."
Goalscorer Loftus-Cheek rekindled his passion for a city he has visited once before – and he'll leave Hong Kong impressed again by the city's passion for football, and for the big occasion.
"I think it's fantastic to come here to play in this fantastic stadium," he said. "The people are always so welcoming. It's amazing to come back and play in front of these people and the way they love football. You can see they're huge fans of football and AC Milan."
In keeping with the enormity of the occasion, both sides brought their major stars out to shine from the first whistle, with Liverpool showcasing the likes of Virgil van Dijk, Mohamed Salah and Alisson Becker while Leao, Christian Pulisic and Youssouf Fofana were thrown into the fray immediately for AC Milan.
The crowd erupted when the teams were announced and continued to roar with approval as the players took to the pitch.
Liverpool coach Arne Slot wasn't delighted by the result, but the experience of being in Hong Kong – and at the Kai Tak Stadium – left him buzzing.
"Everywhere we go we feel so much support and love from the fans and it was here today," said Slot. "It was already two days ago when we trained in the stadium. I don't think many clubs train in stadiums where 25,000 people are watching a training session. So it tells you something about the club, but also about our fans and we're really happy to be here."
Liverpool captain Van Dijk also shared his love for the experience – and the city.
"It's a great thing because, obviously, you get to learn a different culture," he said. "You see so many different things that, obviously, I've never seen before. I've never been in Hong Kong before, so it's only been positive. We had a little stroll around in Mong Kok the other day so it was nice to get a feel for everything."
More excitement is on the cards as well with The Herbalgy Cup match upcoming between Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur on Thursday, 31 July at Kai Tak. That match, which marks the first time a North London derby has been played outside of the UK, is also sold out.
The inaugural Hong Kong Football Festival (HKFF) is being organised and promoted by global events producer and promoter TEG Sport and is sanctioned by the Football Association of Hong Kong, China.
With tickets selling out quickly earlier this summer, anticipation had built to fever pitch across the past week as the HKFF and the new Kai Tak Stadium demonstrate the excitement ahead for the city's role as Asia's hub for hosting mega international events.
"What a crowd, what a venue, what a night," said Rachael Carroll, Managing Director of TEG Sport.
"TEG Sport is proud to have delivered an exciting spectacle to football fans in Hong Kong. We extend our heartfelt thanks to everyone involved, from the clubs and event partners to the passionate fans and the Government of the Hong Kong SAR, for making this extraordinary experience possible," added Carroll.
Fans had been gathering all week in Hong Kong – from around the Greater Bay Area and throughout mainland China, and from across the globe – as these two powerhouses of European football prepared to renew acquaintances.
Thursday and Friday saw nearly 35,000 spectators attend the Open Training sessions of Liverpool FC and AC Milan, with the club's football superstars mingling with local and visiting fans after taking in the sights and sounds of the city.
It was also a prime opportunity for young fans to get a first look at their idols, with tickets priced to ensure families could enjoy the occasion. Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur will also host Open Training sessions at Kai Tak next week.
Liverpool estimate they have around 1.2 million fans in Hong Kong and over 7.5 million.
In the sea of red, were local couple Law Wai-keung and Chow Hoi-yan who brought their three-year-old Coen Law Hok-chung for his first taste of live international football.
"We spent our honeymoon watching Liverpool and now we can see them right here in Hong Kong – it's incredible," said Chow.
"To have our son here has made this a special moment for us all and we'll never forget it."
As Kai Tak's first-ever major international football tournament, the Hong Kong Football Festival is helping showcase Hong Kong's brand-new sporting venue to the world, the latest piece in Hong Kong's compelling sportainment draw.