TSG (Taiwan Steel Group) Tainan won the Taiwan Football Premier League (TFPL) title for a fifth straight season on Sunday, while the Kaohsiung Attackers a week earlier emerged as champions for the first time in the women’s league.
In the final round of the TFPL, TSG rested most of their important players for the home match at Yonghua Stadium in Tainan. They had 46 points prior to the game and were already guaranteed to finish in first place.
Their opponent, Hang Yuan FC, were led by midfielder Chen Po-ying, who scored two goals, first with a curving shot just inside the 18-yard box, then with a header in the second half. TSG pulled one back on a late goal by Brazilian forward Antonio Gamaroni to end the match 2-1 for the visitors.
Photo: Screen grab from TSG Tainan’s Facebook page
Hang Yuan FC finished in third place with 39 points.
Taichung Futuro won 2-1 against Taipower. A fierce shot by Cheng Hao broke the deadlock.
Futuro finished in second place with 43 points. They had a good run and led the title race most of the season, only to falter in the last two months. TSG overtook them in the final weeks.
Photo: Screen grab from Kaohsiung Attackers’ Facebook page
The result has consolidated the “TSG dynasty.”
However, supporters of other clubs complained about what they called an unfair advantage, as the team is supported by the conglomerate TSG.
“It is very good that TSG invests in Taiwanese soccer, as it has brought in resources and higher wages for star players,” said Cheng Shien-meng, a soccer pundit and game analyst for Sportcast Taiwan TV network.
“However, most fans wish to see TSG make long-term plans to manage the club, systematically develop players and coaches, improve its home stadium and training facilities, and start a youth academy to cultivate young talent,” he said.
“TSG should spend more resources on publicity and promoting the club and the league to attract more interest from fans and increase media coverage,” he added.
“The success of TSG with its five-year dynasty can encourage other domestic conglomerates to invest in soccer and become a good model for involvement,” he said. “Other clubs can also benefit from the financial backing and the know-how, which would raise the league’s competitiveness. More clubs can turn professional, and this would improve Taiwanese soccer.”
Meanwhile, in the final round of the domestic women’s league, the Kaohsiung Attackers on Nov. 23 won the title race.
The Kaohsiung Attackers visited the New Taipei Hang Yuan in a close-fought contest, in which the first half ended goalless, despite several good chances for both sides.
In the 68th minute, Kaohsiung midfielder Wu Kai-ching intercepted a pass, started a counterattack, and sent a pass to forward Lu Meng-fang on the right side, who fired into the net from about 20 yards. Kaohsiung won the game 1-0.
Kaohsiung became the champions for the first time, breaking the dominance of the Taichung Blue Whale and Hualien City over the past few years.
Previously named Kaohsiung SunnyBank, the club this year came under new management and funding support from Power Wind Health Industry Co.
Japanese manager Takeshi Inoguchi was appointed this year to head a new staff team.
Last year’s defending champions, the Taichung Blue Whale, had to settle for second place at 30 points, and the New Taipei Hang Yuan finished one point behind in third.
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