Lo Chih-an scored a 90th-minute equalizer yesterday as Taiwan’s national soccer team rescued a point against Guam in an East Asian Cup qualifier played in Hong Kong.
After a goalless first half in Hong Kong Stadium yesterday evening, Dylan Naputi opened the scoring for Guam in the 67th minute of their final-round qualifying tie.
It looked like Guam would hold on for all three points until Lo struck the equalizer in the final minute to grab a share of the spoils.
Yesterday’s late match saw favorites Australia take on North Korea in a showdown likely to provide the winner of the qualifying tournament, who will go on to face South Korea, Japan and China in the finals in South Korea next year.
“It’s pretty important to win this game,” former Brisbane Roar star Matt McKay told the Wide World of Sports Web site ahead of the match.
“It could come down to goal-difference if it’s a draw. They’ve done really well in their first two games and we didn’t put as many past Hong Kong as we would have liked. So it’s very important to get the three points and we know that. I guess it is a must-win, but it’s a small tournament so they’re all must-wins really,” he said.
McKay, who plays for Busan I Park in South Korea, said the Socceroos opponents would be a well-organized and determined side.
“I play in South Korea, so I know that kind of philosophy that they have,” he said.
“They’re very disciplined and North Korea are no different. They’ll work hard, structurally they’ll be sound, so we’ve just got to work hard defensively. If we can defend well it will give us the opportunities to go forward and I think we’ve got the players to really create chances,” McKay added.
At halftime, Australia were leading 1-0, with a goal from Archie Thompson after four minutes.
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