Sat, Apr 05, 2008 page20

• Taiwan coast to win over Guam

  HIT FOR FOUR Guam shocked the hosts by taking the lead but Taiwan bounced back to set up an intriguing clash with Sri Lanka at Taipei's Zhongshan Stadium tomorrow

  • By Dave Carroll / STAFF REPORTER
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  Taiwan recorded a success in their second AFC Challenge Cup game at the Zhongshan Soccer Stadium in Taipei yesterday.

  First half goals from Chang Han, Huang Wei-yi, Chen Po-liang and Chiang Shih-lu were enough to see the hosts defeat Guam and record their first points of the competition.

  Both sides lined up with 4-4-2 formations, but it was Taiwan who started the better with Chang and Huang leading the line.

  

  Taiwan's Chang Han shoots against Guam in his side's 4-1 victory at Zhongshan Stadium in Taipei yesterday evening. Taiwan face Sri Lanka at the same venue tomorrow.

  PHOTO: LIAO CHENG-HUI, TAIPEI TIMES

  They almost got on the score sheet as early as the second minute when Chang shot just wide of Brett Maluwelmeng’s right hand post, with the keeper beaten.

  Guam were in the game though as Taiwan’s back four were guilty of some rudimentary errors early on. In the fourth minute the defense gave the ball away on the edge of the area and Zachary Pangelinan’s weak shot was easily saved by Lu Kun-chi.

  Chang and Huang continued to give the Guam defense problems and Taiwan were getting a lot of joy using the width of wingers Chiang and Lo Chih-an, but against the run of play Guam opened the scoring in the 15th minute.

  Another sloppy mistake in the Taiwan defense allowed Pangelinan to find himself one-on-one with the keeper and Lu brought him down in the area. The referee had no hesitation in pointing to the spot and Pangelinan got up to strike the penalty home and give his side the lead.

  Taiwan, stung into action, took only five minutes to get back on level terms, with Chiang breaking on the right and crossing for Chang to open the home side’s account.

  Taiwan continued to put the Guam defense under tremendous pressure and in the 28th minute scored again when Huang toe poked the ball past Maluwelmeng and into the net.

  By now Taiwan were in control, with Chen and Tsai Hsien-tang bossing the midfield, and in the 32nd minute a smart one-two between Chen and Lo was finished off by Chen slotting the ball into the net for Taiwan’s third.

  In the 42nd minute Maluwelmeng saved well from Lo’s header, but from the resultant corner he was beaten again when Chiang turned and shot from the edge of the penalty area.

  Taiwan took their foot off the gas in the second half, probably with tomorrow’s game against Sri Lanka in mind, but still managed to create numerous chances.

  Huang headed just wide in the 60th minute, and 60 seconds later hit the post. He shot wide again in the 62nd minute, before being replaced by Lo Chih-en.

  Lo Chih-en also scraped the outside of the Guam post with a shot, and Chang managed to hit a Guam defender with an open goal at his mercy.

  In the earlier game yesterday Sri Lanka earned their second win of the competition when they overwhelmed Pakistan, conquerors of Taiwan 2-1 on Wednesday.

  Sri Lanka, leading 2-1 at halftime, netted another six times without reply in the second half to complete a 7-1 rout which makes them firm favorites to win Group A when they face Taiwan at the Zhongshan Stadium.
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