Thu, Feb 15, 2007 page20

• Taiwan team stands tall in 1-0 loss to Australians

  BIG PERFORMANCE After last week's 11-0 loss many Aussie fans expected a goal fest, but the local side played well, led by goalie Lu Kun-chi's stellar work

  • By Dave Carroll / STAFF REPORTER
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  Any dreams the Taiwanese Olympic soccer team harbored of a trip across the Strait to play in next year's Games were dashed following the 11-0 thrashing inflicted by the Australians at Hindmarsh Stadium in Adelaide on Wednesday last week.

  Yesterday evening's game at Zhongshan Stadium in Taipei was all about restoring some pride and it was obvious that this would take a real team effort, plenty of energy and commitment -- and no small amount of luck.

  Taiwan lined up with a 4-5-1 formation and looked to limit any damage early on. Australia, with an orthodox 4-4-2, took command and came close with a free kick taken by Adam D'Apuzzo from the right edge of the penalty area as early as the third minute.

  In the 14th minute Taiwan goalie Lu Kun-chi (呂昆錡) punched a cross straight up in the air and the defense was lucky to clear the danger. It was his last mistake, and in the 19th minute Lu redeemed himself with a great save at the feet of Bruce Djite.

  More good saves followed and Taiwan slowly got back into the game and had a real chance in the 28th minute. Some good interplay between Hsieh Meng-hsuan (謝孟軒) and Chang Han (張涵) was followed up by a shot from Huang Wei-yi (黃瑋儀) on the left edge of the penalty area, which unfortunately for him flew wide.

  Further Australian pressure ensued and it took a good save by Lu from a Spase Dilevski shot to keep the Australians out, followed by a brilliant double save a few minutes later when Australia looked odds on to score.

  The most bizarre incident of the match occurred when Hsieh was injured and receiving treatment. The Australian players were all gathered by the half-way line taking drinks when the referee allowed the Taiwanese to take the resulting free kick. A quick ball forward caught the whole Australian team unaware, but the chance went begging as the final ball went astray and the Australian defense rushed back to cover.

  More pressure from the Australians followed, and more good saves from Lu. With the match now getting very stop-start, numerous late tackles and stoppages caused friction.

  Taiwan's best chance of the game came in the 41st minute when, after some great one-touch passing between Hsieh and Chang, the ball fell to Chen Yi-wei (陳毅維) only meters from goal.

  But he missed his kick and the ball dribbled wide.

  The second half started much as the first, with the teams now visibly calmer following the half-time team talks: There was more soccer and less for the referee to do.

  A string of attacks by the Australians was somehow thwarted by the Taiwan defense and the heroics of Lu in goal.

  Shortly after hitting the side netting in another Australian attack in the 56th minute D'Apuzzo was replaced by Rob Cornthwaite, who made an impact with his aerial power up front.

  Finally a breakthrough came, and it was as a result of hesitation in the Taiwan defense, with all the players leaving responsibility to each other, that allowed Australian captain Mark Milligan to take the ball through the middle of the defense and slot coolly into the corner of the net.

  Further Australian pressure followed with the Taiwanese looking increasingly tired.

  Following an injury, Lu, without doubt Taiwan's man of the match, was substituted in the 74th minute to a standing ovation from both sets of supporters.

  The atmosphere soured in the last 15 minutes, especially following an off-the-ball incident by Huang when he clashed with Milligan, resulting in a bloody nose and a noisy Australian protest.

  Taiwan's final chance came in the 82nd minute when a quick free kick caught the Australians unawares, but nobody could get on the end of Chen's cross, which flew across the face of the Australian goal.

  Australia's Djite had a chance to score a second in injury time and it took a well-timed challenge by a tired Tsai Sheng-an (蔡聖安) to block.

  Taiwan finished the game with nine men following two further late injuries, but at the final whistle the team's pride had indeed been restored despite narrowly losing the game.
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