The first event of the new season took place last Saturday: for the second time current SIFL champions Shanghai Lions organized a 7-aside tournament. This year the tournament took place in a new venue in Putuo district and 20 teams signed up for it. Next to ReUnited and 3United we also registered a third team this time, and in the spirit of our naming tradition FreeUnited was born.

After the four games in the group stage both ReUnited and 3United qualified for the champions knock-out stage, while FreeUnited continued in the plate cup. Unfortunately, the game we wished to be the final of the tournament happened already in the first knockout stage: ReUnited vs. 3United. It was a very open match that could have gone both ways, but both teams did not score in regular time, so the winner had to be decided by a penalty shootout. In the ice-hockey style penalties ReUnited eventually succeeded, putting us up for the quarter-finals against Oranje. Also this game had to be decided in penalties and again we managed to advance to the next round. In the semifinals against Azzurri then we managed to score first, but after the equalizer for a third time in a row we needed a penalty shootout win to advance to the final of the tournament. In the final we battled for the tournament title with a team from Xiamen. After some good opportunities on both sides Xiamen managed to score after a free kick and it stayed 1-0 until the final whistle. Still, taking home the runner-up trophy was a good success and makes us confident for the SIFL opening tournament next Saturday.

Our newborn FreeUnited managed at the same time to advance to the plate cup finals. After some passionate performances on the way to the final, also FreeU was not lucky enough in the final and had to settle for runner-up. Nevertheless, it was good to see our new baby doing so well and we celebrated a successful day again in our new home the Limbo.