Newly-promoted team Hull City defeated reigning English top flight champions Leicester City, 2-1, at their home field of KC Stadium on Saturday to open the 2016-2017 Premier League season with a bang amidst rumors of an impending Chinese takeover this summer.

Mike Phelan, the Tigers' current caretaker manager after head coach Steve Bruce resigned from his position last month, led a team of only 13 senior players against the stacked club of Foxes head coach Claudio Ranieri that boasts the likes of Jamie Vardy, Riyad Mahrez, Shinji Okazaki, Danny Drinkwater, Wes Morgan, Ahmed Musa, and Kasper Schmeichel.

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Against all odds and with the potential Chinese buyers in the audience, Phelan and his crew made the most of what they had at the moment to pull off the impressive win.

The 53-year-old coach had initially said that they need to convince the buyers to complete the deal before the English summer transfer window closes at the end of the month or else "Hull will effectively be doomed to relegation".

And convince them is exactly what they did.

Norwegian striker Adama Diomande scored the opening goal for Hull City during the first half injury time, but Mahrez quickly responded with a goal of his own two minutes after the restart to keep things tied, as per SkySports.

However, the Tigers are not to be denied as Scottish winger Robert Snodgrass fired a winner at the 57th to get back the lead for his side.

When the match was over and both teams failed to score again, Phelan was relieved that the team has accomplished what it came out to do for that day.

"It was great to see the team and staff all pull together and surprise so many people. The players have enjoyed themselves today," Phelan said after the match, as per the South China Morning Post.

It remains to be seen, though, whether the Chinese takeover will push through or whether Phelan will still be Hull City boss by next week if it did.

TagsPremier League, Premier League 2016-2017, Hull City AFC, China Football, China Football rumors