Taiwan were defeated by Thailand in their FIFA 2018 World Cup Asian qualifiers Group F opener in Taipei yesterday, as the visitors made it two wins out of two at the start of their campaign.
At a more than three-quarters full Taipei Municipal Stadium, with a large contingent of away supporters, many who turned up at 5pm before the stadium had opened, both sides got off to a cagey start, with the first effort on goal coming from Taiwan’s Xavier Chen from long range in the 10th minute.
The visitors soon began to take control of the game and Anon Pokkhao hit the post following a defensive error by the hosts in the 14th minute.
Photo: Lin Cheng-kung, Taipei Times
Teerasil Dangda put the visitors in front in the 21st minute when a long ball completely split the Taiwan defense and the nimble striker fired past goalkeeper Lu Kun-chi and into the top-left corner.
Taiwan’s Onur Dogan fashioned a chance for the hosts in the 34th minute, but he could not beat the goalkeeper, before an almost identical move saw Dangda score his second five minutes later.
Once again a long pass completely bypassed the Taiwan defense and the striker lifted over the outrushing Lu to double the visitors lead.
Taiwan came out after the break and took the game to the visitors, with Chen Hao-wei causing problems for the Thailand defenders, but it was the visitors who created the first good opportunity, Lu doing well to push Adul Lahso’s shot over the bar.
Chen Hao-wei forced a save from Thailand goalkeeper Sinthaweechai Hathairattankool in the 73rd minute and then hit the side-netting three minutes later as the hosts looked for a way back into the match.
Dangda had a chance to complete his hat-trick in the 86th minute, but the Taiwan defense did well to keep the shot out, before Hathairattankool saved Chen Hao-wei’s shot in the 90th minute, the hosts’ best chance of the match.
“Our players did their best, there were some mistakes due to a lack of concentration and we let in two goals. We have room to improve. I will remind the players to not to make those mistakes in the upcoming games,” Taiwan head coach Chen Kuei-jen said.
“It was a good game, both teams played well and we were lucky to get the two goals in the first half. We feel good, but we had luck taking the three points back to Thailand,” Thailand coach Kiatisuk Senamuang said.
Taiwan next take on group favorites Iraq away on Sept. 3, before hosting Vietnam at the Taipei Municipal Stadium five days later. They then travel to Thailand on Nov. 12, before hosting Iraq at the National Stadium in Kaohsiung five days later.
Taiwan’s final Group F match sees them visit Vietnam on March 24 next year.
The group winners and the four best runners-up advance to the final qualifying round for the World Cup finals to be hosted by Russia in 2018.
Additional reporting by Jason Pan
After letting another big lead slip with an error-strewn performance at the French Open on Wednesday, top-ranked Aryna Sabalenka felt like getting as far away from the courts as possible. “Just want to quit tennis right now,” Sabalenka said after wasting a lead of a set and two breaks in a 3-6, 7-5, 6-0 loss to Diana Shnaider in the women’s singles quarter-finals. “We’ll see in few days. Hopefully I’ll get back on track mentally.” Sabalenka’s wait for a first French Open title continues despite the four-time major winner leading 4-1 in the second set and being two points from victory while
BIG NAMES GONE: Zverev is the clear favorite for a maiden Grand Slam title, reaching semi-finals for the fifth time in six years and finishing second on three occasions Alexander Zverev on Tuesday breezed past Rafael Jodar to stay on course for an elusive Grand Slam title at the French Open, while Jakub Mensik halted Joao Fonseca’s scintillating run in the quarter-finals. Zverev, the highest-ranked player left in the men’s draw, put an end to Spanish teenager Jodar’s impressive Roland Garros debut, easing into the semi-finals with a 7-6, (7/3), 6-1, 6-3 win. The 29-year-old Zverev is the clear favorite for a maiden Grand Slam title. He has finished runner-up on three occasions, including at the 2024 French Open. “I want to win the matches that are ahead of
For some, Cristiano Ronaldo remains the essential spearhead for Portugal’s FIFA World Cup bid, while others believe his presence would prevent Roberto Martinez’s strong side from flourishing. The debate around the five-time Ballon d’Or winner rages on, as it did at UEFA Euro 2024 and four years ago in Qatar — yet Ronaldo endures, ready to play in a record sixth World Cup. The 41-year-old remains a global superstar despite swapping the European elite for Saudi Arabia’s Al-Nassr, and is the leading men’s international goalscorer with 143 strikes. With 25 of those coming in 30 games under Martinez, the coach
Taiwanese sprinter Chen Yi-cen on Friday won the silver medal in the women’s 400m final at the Asian U20 Athletics Championships in Hong Kong, with a time of 53.16 seconds. Chen, 15, was the youngest among the eight finalists, and her performance also met the qualifying standard of 53.50 seconds for the Nagoya Asian Games in Japan in September and October. Chen first made her mark at the National Games in Tainan in 2023, at the age of 13, winning the women’s 400m final in 55.55 seconds to become the youngest gold medalist in the history of the event. Meanwhile,
RSS