Hang Yuan FC on Sunday beat the Taipei-based Leopard Cat 3-1 to move into second place with 22 points, just two behind leaders Taichung Futuro in the Taiwan Football Premier League, while defending champions Tainan-TSG settled for a 2-2 draw against Taipower.
Hang Yuan’s South Korean striker Joo Ik-seong opened the scoring in the first half in Taoyuan, when he redirected a short cross from forward Wu Yen-shu into the net.
Four minutes later, Wu scored a free-kick from 23m over a wall of Leopard Cat players and past goalkeeper Derek Shih into the high corner at the far post of the net.
Photo courtesy of Chinese Taipei Football Association
Hang Yuan kept up the pressure in the second half, with midfielder Liu Cheng-en driving a fierce shot past two defenders into the net.
Leopard Cat’s Burkinabe forward Ben Ouedraogo banged in a rebound a few minutes later.
Wu had another chance at the 78th minute on a free-kick outside the box, sending another fast shot inside the near post that Shih saved.
Photo courtesy of Chinese Taipei Football Association
Hang Yuan head coach Hong Ching-huai praised Wu and Joo for the win.
“We made adjustments depending on game situation. When the opposition are not pressing, I told my players to pass, find breakthroughs up front. If the opposition push into our zone with quick passes, players must come back to defend in compact blocks, and look for openings to stage fast counterattacks,” he said.
At the National Stadium in Kaohsiung, Taipower hosted Tainan TSG with both sides looking to catch up in the standings.
TSG forward Chen Jui-chieh scoring early off a precision pass from Ivorian striker Ange Samuel.
Shortly after halftime, Taipower captain Lin Cheng-yi tied the game with a header.
Tainan striker Marc Fenelus from the Turks and Caicos Islands supplied the assist for Samuel to advance inside the box, beat a defender and score for the 2-1 lead, which lasted until the 78th minute, when Taipower forward Tseng Chih-wei tapped in the equalizer past goalkeeper Tuan Hsuan.
TSG are winless in their past five games, with four 2-2 draws and a 3-0 loss to Taichung Futuro on Aug. 7.
In Sunday’s other match, Ming Chuan University forward Cheng Chun-hsuan scored on AC Taipei just before intermission. At the 68th minute, Taipei midfielder Wu Lung-ming unleashed a 32m screamer to level the game 1-1, which was the final result.
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