Taiwan last night registered a 0-0 draw against North Korea after a hardfought encounter at the Taipei Municipal Stadium that provided more entertainment than the scoreline might suggest.
Taiwan’s chances of qualifying for the last available spot in the 2015 East Asian Cup evaporated on Sunday after they lost their second consecutive game, so they were left playing only for pride against the standout team of the group. North Korea came into the game unbeaten and on the back of thrashing Guam 5-1 three days earlier.
Despite North Korea dominating possession early on, there was little between the teams until the 18th minute, when Taiwan goalkeeper Chiu Yu-hung pulled off an acrobatic save to tip over a powerful header from just inside the area.
Photo: Lin Cheng-kung, Taipei Times
The visitors had the ball in the net just before halftime by way of striker Jin Hyok-ri’s well-weighted lob from all of 25m, but luckily for the hosts, the goal was ruled offside.
Immediately following the restart, a lucky deflection left North Korea striker Chol Min-rim with an open goal, but he somehow fired over the bar from close range.
One minute later, midfielder Il Gwan-jong stuck out an outsretched boot to loop the ball over Taiwan goalkeeper Chiu from the edge of the box, but again North Korea were denied by the linesman’s flag.
Having had to chase possession for much of the match, the hosts began to tire, allowing their rivals to attack in numbers. However, having ridden wave after wave of attack — backed by a ferociously vocal crowd — the home side rallied and might even have gone on to snatch victory in the late stages.
Taiwan might feel somewhat unfortunate to have lost their first two games, but are likely to be boosted by recording a respectable draw against quality opponents, who were widely expected to put several goals past the hosts.
Taiwan’s women’s team showed more promise, making it to what was effectively the final of the qualifying round on Tuesday.
Yet despite a valiant effort, they were ultimately beaten 2-0 by a strong South Korea, who knocked up a tally of 26 goals without conceding in their three group games.
Bayer 04 Leverkusen go into today’s match at TSG 1899 Hoffenheim stung from their first league defeat in 16 months. Leverkusen were beaten 3-2 at home by RB Leipzig before the international break, the first loss since May last year for the reigning league and cup champions. While any defeat, particularly against a likely title rival, would have disappointed coach Xabi Alonso, the way in which it happened would be most concerning. Just as they did in the Supercup against VfB Stuttgart and in the league opener to Borussia Moenchengladbach, Leverkusen scored first, but were pegged back. However, while Leverkusen rallied late to
The lights dimmed and the crowd hushed as Karoline Kristensen entered for her performance. However, this was no ordinary Dutch theater: The temperature was 80°C and the audience naked apart from a towel. Dressed in a swimsuit and to the tune of emotional music, the 21-year-old Kristensen started her routine, performed inside a large sauna, with a bed of hot rocks in the middle. For a week this month, a group of wellness practitioners, called “sauna masters,” are gathering at a picturesque health resort in the Netherlands to compete in this year’s Aufguss world sauna championships. The practice takes its name from a
Japanese players are moving to English soccer in record numbers and more look set to follow with clubs attracted by their quality, strong work ethic and value for money. Kaoru Mitoma is the standout talent of five Japanese players in the English Premier League, with eight more in the Championship and two in League One. Liverpool midfielder Wataru Endo, the captain of Japan, believes his compatriots are “being held in higher esteem” by English clubs compared with the past. “The staff at Liverpool ask me about lots of Japanese players, not necessarily with a view to a transfer, but just saying this or
Taiwan yesterday survived Bosnia and Herzegovina to win their Davis Cup World Group I tie at the Taipei Tennis Center. The tight series started on Saturday with world No. 123 Jason Tseng losing 3-6, 7-5, 6-4 to Mirza Basic in the opening singles matchup. However, teammate Tony Wu kept the tie even, dominating world No. 86 Damir Dzumhur 6-2, 6-1. Yesterday, 24-year-old Ray Ho and partner 25-year-old Hsu Yu-hsiou kept up the momentum, making short work of Basic and Nerman Fatic, winning 6-3, 6-4. Tseng then suffered another defeat, losing 6-4, 2-6, 6-2 to Dzumhur in a brutal match that lasted more than two