Ivorian forward Ange Samuel on Sunday led TSG Tainan to a 3-0 victory over Ming Chuan University (MCU), ensuring they clinched this year’s Taiwan Football Premier League title, with Taichung Futuro only one point behind on 37.
Samuel and Marc Fenelus from Turks and Caicos led TSG’s attack from the get-go. Only 3 minutes into the game, Fenelus floated a cross toward Samuel who headed the ball into the net, but it was flagged down for offside.
Two minutes later, with TSG applying pressure, MCU goalkeeper Wang Huai-chih mishandled the ball, which Samuel easily tapped in. He then doubled the lead with a header in the 17th minute.
Photo courtesy of the CTFA
Late in the game, the Ivorian passed to midfielder Yu Chia-huang, who slotted the ball in past Wang, taking TSG to 3-0.
The club’s owners from Taiwan Steel Group joined the players and coaches on the field to celebrate winning the league title for a third straight year.
League officials said the awarding of the trophy and individual honors would be done later at an official ceremony.
“Our players encountered many problems early this season. Their teamwork and the execution of tactics did not go as I wanted,” TSG manager Lo Chih-tsung said. “It was a much tougher campaign than in the past two years.”
Lo said there had been disruptions due to the team participating in the AFC Cup qualifiers in Thailand in June.
“Preparation and going overseas to play caused headaches and other issues, so we fell behind the other leading teams. It took time for our team to make adjustments … and seize the title in the late stages,” he said.
In the other final-round games on Sunday, Taichung Futuro trounced Hang Yuan FC 5-1 in New Taipei City, while Taipower drew 1-1 against Leopard Cat FC at home in Kaohsiung.
Futuro midfielder Lee Mao and Haitian striker Benchy Estama both headed the ball in to score in the first half.
Five minutes after halftime, Hang Yuan defender Yang Chia-pao scored an own-goal on an errand back pass, then Estama slotted the ball in to score a brace.
Japanese forward Shohei Yokoyama tapped the ball in for Futuro, before Hang Yuan substitute Pan Yen-hong netted a consolation goal, taking the final tally to 5-1.
Taipower ended the season on 31 points, followed by Hang Yuan with 29 points, Leopard Cat FC with 24, AC Taipei with seven and MCU with five.
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