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.
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