The men’s national soccer team yesterday faltered to a 2-1 loss to hosts Turkmenistan in their crucial Asian Football Confederation Asian Cup Group E qualifier at the Sport Toplumy Stadium in Balkanabat.
Both sides had a goal disallowed, but Taiwan did not quit after falling behind 0-2, fighting back with a goal on a late penalty.
The hosts advanced with 10 points, equal to group leaders Bahrain, who took first place with an earlier victory against Turkmenistan serving as the tiebreaker.
Gary White, Taiwan’s new English manager, had told the team it was a “must-win” game and revamped the roster with new players, the most prominent additions being Tim Chow and Will Donkin, English players who have Republic of China (ROC) citizenship through their parents.
White started the team in a 4-3-3 formation, with Pan Wen-chieh as goalkeeper.
Taiwanese fans were excited to see the strong midfield trio of Chen Po-liang, Chow and Wen Chih-hao, who are attacking threats, in support of main striker Onur Dogan — a naturalized ROC citizen — flanked by Lee Mao and Chen Hao-wei.
However, a weak back four proved costly, with Murat Yakshiyev scoring the opening goal for the hosts in the 21st minute.
Taiwan’s defenders failed to pick up Turkmenistan’s charging offense on a free-kick, one of whom chested down a pass for Yakshiyev to slot in at close range.
Forward Altymyrat Annadurdyyev doubled the hosts’ lead in the 39th minute, when he flicked a long cross from the left by midfielder Arslanmyrat Amanov after Pan and the defenders failed to stop the forward’s run into the box.
Taiwan fought back, with Dogan and Chow a constant threat with their timed runs, but could not convert.
In the second half, Taiwan picked up the pace and had numerous chances, including a goal in the 68th minute by Lee, who was ruled offside, nullifying the point.
The canceled out points were balanced, as the hosts had a third goal just before the half disallowed for offside.
Taiwan were award a penalty in the 88th minute, when substitute Wu Chun-ching was knocked down inside the box when challenging a high cross.
Captain Chen Po-liang converted the point, blasting the ball high into the net to make it 2-1.
Taiwan had further chances in stoppage time, getting two corner-kicks, but could not sustain the attack and the ball was cleared out by Turkmenistan’s defenders.
Donkin, who plays for English Premier League side Crystal Palace’s U-18 team, got his first taste of action with Taiwan’s national squad at a competitive international match when he was inserted in his usual attacking midfielder role in the 85th minute, replacing defender Hsieh Po-an.
Brazil has four teams, more than any other country, in the expanded Club World Cup that kicked off yesterday in the US, but for SE Palmeiras, the competition holds a special meaning: winning it would provide some redemption. Under coach Abel Ferreira since 2020, Palmeiras lifted two Copa Libertadores titles, plus Brazilian league, cup and state championships. Even before Ferreira, it boasted another South American crown and 11 league titles. The only major trophy missing is a world champions’ title. Other Brazilian clubs like Fluminense FC and Botafogo FR, also in the tournament, have never won it either, but the problem for Palmeiras
Manchester City on Monday completed the signing of left-back Rayan Ait-Nouri from Wolverhampton Wanderers for a reported ￡31 million (US$41.8 million). The 24-year-old Algeria international has signed a five-year contract and will be available for the FIFA Club World Cup, which begins later this week. Ait-Nouri is expected to be just one of a trio of new City faces for that tournament with deals close to completion for AC Milan midfielder Tijjani Reijnders and Olympique Lyonnais playmaker Rayan Cherki. After missing out on a major trophy in the recently completed season for the first time since 2016-2017, City are hoping
Paris Saint-Germain’s Lee Kang-in has pleaded with South Korea fans to get behind the team at the 2026 FIFA World Cup after more boos were aimed at coach Hong Myung-bo despite leading them to qualification. South Korea reached next year’s finals in North America without losing a game, but that does not tell the whole story. The country’s soccer association has been in the firing line, having scrambled about to find a successor after sacking the unpopular Jurgen Klinsmann in February last year. They eventually settled on Hong, the decorated former skipper who had an unsuccessful stint as coach in 2013-2014, during which
Lionel Messi drew vast crowds and showed flashes of his brilliance when his Inter Miami side were held to a goalless draw by African giants Al-Ahly as the revamped FIFA Club World Cup got off to a festive start on Saturday. Fans showed up en masse for the Group A clash at the Hard Rock Stadium, home to the NFL’s Miami Dolphins, but Messi could not fully deliver, his best chance coming through a last-second attempt that was deflected onto the crossbar. Inter Miami next face FC Porto on Thursday in Atlanta, while Al-Ahly, who benefited from raucous, massive support, are to
RSS