Taipower FC and Tainan TSG (Taiwan Steel Group) picked up wins over the weekend in the Taiwan Football Premier League (TFPL) to remain tied at the top of the table on 28 points, meaning that the title race for the second half of the season is likely to go down to the wire.
Taipower FC edged Taichung Futuro 2-1 in Jhubei City on Sunday, with midfielder Ko Yu-ting hitting the goal of the day after he carried the ball down left flank, fought off two challengers and fired a looping shot into the net from the edge of the box to send Taipower ahead 1-0.
In the 84th minute, Ko had a shot from inside the box blocked, but teammate Lin Chien-hsun slotted in the rebound to make it 2-0.
Photo courtesy of CTFA
The match ended 2-1, after Futuro scored late into added time when substitute Huang Sheng-chieh volleyed a cross from striker Lee Mao into the net. The defeat left Futuro in third place on 20 points.
In the post-match interview, Taipower manager Chen Kuei-jen lauded Ko’s vital contribution.
“It’s good to see Ko finally took his coaches’ advice. We told him to take more shots when he had the opportunity. He is among the better Taiwanese players, good at shooting and dribbling the ball,” Chen said.
“I asked him to try to make more shots on goal in this game, not just to get past defenders and pass the ball off. So, in this match, Ko made a brilliant shot, arching it perfectly over Futuro goalkeeper Kochi Jun and into the top corner,” Chen added.
Also on Sunday, visitors Tainan TSG crushed Land Home-NTUS (National Taiwan University of Sport) 9-0 at the Taiyuan Soccer Field in Taichung.
Tainan TSG were led by Turks and Caicos Islands striker Marc Fenelus, who tallied three late goals to give the team their fourth consecutive win.
Land Home-NTUS’ student athletes faced a star-studded Tainan TSG lineup, including other skilled foreign players. Haitian forward Benchy Estama scored a brace for Tainan TSG in the first half, while Ivory Coast striker Ange Samuel and midfielder Chen Juei-chieh scored one apiece, putting them out in front by four goals at halftime.
In the second half, Fenelus substituted for Russian midfielder Alim Zumakulov and led the Tainan TSG offense on the attack, forcing Land Home-NTUS to stick close to their own net.
Samuel and Chen each scored for Tainan TSG in the second half, while Fenelus fired in three late goals to complete the 9-0 rout against Land Home-NTUS.
In Sunday’s other contest, Tatung FC rallied to beat CPC FC 3-2 in Kaohsiung.
Guatemalan forward Gerardo Rabre struck early for Tatung, but CPC replied with goals from Chilean midfielder Matias Godoy and teammate Chou Cheng to lead 2-1 at halftime.
At eight minutes into the second half, Tatung winger Hsu Fan-shao, evading two defenders along the left flank, advanced on goal and fired the equalizer, making it 2-2.
At the hour mark, Tatung forward Ben Ouedraogo from Burkina Faso charged into the box and was upended by CPC goalkeeper Tsai Shuo-tse, but converted the penalty, putting his team out in front 3-2.
Tatung chalked up their first victory since the season resumed this month after neither side could capitalize on numerous opportunities.
In the women’s Taiwan Mulan Football League, Hualien City nosed ahead in the title race on 20 points after thrashing Taoyuan International 3-0 on Saturday.
Taichung Blue Whale remain in second on 17 after holding Kaohsiung Sunny Bank to a 1-1 draw, while New Taipei Hang Yuan defeated Taipei Bravo Bear 2-0.
SSC Napoli will have to wait one more week to seal the Serie A title after on Sunday being held to a goalless draw at Parma, while closest rivals Inter drew 2-2 in a dramatic game with SS Lazio. Antonio Conte’s team stayed one point ahead of Inter and were unfortunate not to win after twice striking the woodwork through Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa and Matteo Politano, while Scott McTominay also had a free-kick tipped onto the crossbar. The away side thought they would be handed a chance to take the points from the penalty spot in the 96th minute when David Neres
Omar Marmoush’s stunning long-range strike on Tuesday upstaged Kevin de Bruyne on the Manchester City great’s Etihad farewell. Marmoush let fly from about 30m to put City ahead in their 3-1 win against AFC Bournemouth in the Premier League. The victory moved Pep Guardiola’s team up to third in the standings and left qualification for the UEFA Champions League in their own hands heading into the last round of the season. “It’s really important. To be in the Champions League after what happened [this season] will be really nice,” the City manager said. De Bruyne was making his final home appearance for City before
TIGHT FINISH: Napoli only needed to do the same as or better than Inter, who won their game against Como 2-0 on the same day, leaving Napoli with a one-point lead The two players who Antonio Conte wanted more than any others secured Napoli their second Serie A title in three years on Friday. Scott McTominay scored with an acrobatic bicycle kick before halftime and Romelu Lukaku doubled the lead with a solo goal after the break in the decisive 2-0 home win over Cagliari. Conte became the first coach to win the Italian championship with three different teams. “Everyone contributed to this — but the coach most of all,” Napoli captain Giovanni Di Lorenzo said. “Napoli needed him to get back on top. He’s phenomenal.” Comparing it to his three Serie A titles won
Brighton & Hove Albion’s Jack Hinshelwood on Monday sealed a dramatic 3-2 victory against Liverpool to leave the English Premier League champions without a win since clinching the title. Arne Slot’s side took the lead through Harvey Elliott’s early opener before Yasin Ayari equalized at the American Express Stadium. Dominik Szoboszlai restored Liverpool’s advantage just before halftime, but Brighton staged a late fightback as Kaoru Mitoma leveled before Hinshelwood came off the bench to net with his first touch. Liverpool have taken just one point from their three matches following the title-clinching rout of Tottenham Hotspur on April 27. The Reds have lost at
RSS