At 5pm on April 24, 2021, the HUST Football Cup was successfully completed in the central playground of the main campus. A total of 39 men’s and women’s teams participated in this tournament. The tournament consisted of three divisions: Men’s Group A; Men’s Group B; and a Women’s Group. Following more than 120 games, teams from the School of Optical and Electronic Information, the School of Economics, and the School of Electronic Information and Communication emerged as championships of Men’s Group A, Men’s Group B, and the Women’s Group respectively.

The games in the Women’s Group followed the Fustal Laws of the Game, whiles the Men’s groups followed the latest version of FIFA’s Laws of the Game.

Women’s Group Final

School of Electronic Information and Communication versus School of Energy and Power Engineering

At 10:30am, the Women’s Group final kicked off in the rain. In just the 6th minute of the match, Hu Aoyu, No. 35 player from the team of the School of EIC, made a lob shot from the right side of the penalty area. The goalkeeper could not react, allowing the ball to fall into the far side of the goal. Subsequently, the players became increasingly courageous, applying great pressure to the defensive line of the School of Energy and Power Engineering. However, the School of Energy and Power Engineering showed tenacity to freeze the first half score at 1:0.

In the second half, the two teams switched ends and continued the game. The School of Electronic Information and Communication continued its first half aggression. It was Hu Aoyu, again, who exploited the opposing goalkeeper’s mistake in the 24th minute – her second goal of the game. The 2:0 score-line was maintained until full-time, handing the School of Electronic Information and Communication the championship trophy in the Women’s Group.

Men’s Group B Final

School of Life Science and Technology versus School of Economics

At 1pm, the Men’s Group B final between the School of Economics and the School of Life Science and Technology kicked off.

At the beginning of the first half of the game, the School of Economics took the lead with the first goal. Soon after, the School of Economics scored again - then again, giving them an large advantage over the School of Life Science and Technology.

In the second half of the game, the team from the School of Life Science and Technology launched a counterattack. This proved fruitless due to their opponents’ solid defense. The team from the School of Economics interrupted the attack of the School of Life Science and Technology many times, taking the opportunity to launch counterattacks to widen the gap until the final whistle was blown. Thus, the School of Economics were crowned champions of Men’s Group B.

Men’s Group A Final

School of Optical and Electronic Information versus School of Physics

At 3pm, the final of Men’s Group A, the last match of the HUST Cup between teams from the School of Optical and Electronic Information and the School of Physics kicked off. This game represented the highest level of this tournament. Both are traditionally strong teams in this tournament. The audience in the stands cheered the players with light boards, drums, and shouting. The deafening and overwhelming sound of cheering resonated throughout the entire central playground.

The match was intense from the beginning of the first half. Both teams having many chances to score, with almost all of them intercepted by their opponents at the critical moment. In the 23rd minute, Chen Hongjian, the No. 24 player from the School of Optical and Electronic Information, seized the opportunity to score the first, and decisive goal of the game.

At the beginning of the second half, the tension of the first half was continued. In the 16th minute, the No. 12 player from the School of Physics was given a yellow card for a foul.

During the game, the audience shouted again and again, further whipping up HUSTers’ love of football. In the end, the School of Optical and Electronic Information won the final with the score of 1: 0. This was the first time they won the championship in six years.

A lottery draw was specially set up during the finals. A signed football and ten jerseys, signed by the captain of Chinese Men’s Football Team Hao Junmin, were offered as the prizes in the the draw.

At 5pm, with the end of the cheerleaders’ exciting dance routine, 2021 HUST Cup Closing Ceremony was commenced, with chief referee Bao Lei announcing the results of the competition. Prizes for the winning teams and individuals were announced.

Written by: Hu Zhenxiang

Edited by: Liu Yikang, Scott, Peng Yumeng

Source: HUST Sports Official Wechat Account