The Taiwan Football Premier League (TFPL) season concluded on Sunday, when Taipower charged to a 3-0 win over MCU Desafio of Taipei in the relegation match at Kaohsiung’s Nanzih Soccer Field.
Forwards Yang Cheng-ying and Lai Wei scored before halftime for Taipower to go ahead by two at halftime, then four minutes after restart second-half substitute Yeh Ching-chun netted a glancing header.
Taiwan Steel-Tainan City topped the table to claim the league title for an unprecended sixth straight season, while Ming Chuan University were relegated to the second division, with only one win and one draw from their 21 matches.
Photo courtesy of Taiwan Steel-Tainan City
Meanwhile, former powerhouse Taipower fell on hard times and had to settle for second-to-last spot, with a 5-11 win-loss record and five draws for 20 points.
The second division saw Kaohsiung Attackers finish top, gaining automatic promotion to the top division, while second spot went to the second-stringers from Sunny Bank-AC Taipei, whose first team are already in the top division.
They are prohibited from being promoted to prevent a conflict of interest, leaving the way clear for MCU Desafio to get promoted after finishing third until Taipower emerged victorious from their their relegation battle.
It was a close three-way race all the way, only decided in the final week. During the season’s early phase, Sunny Bank-AC Taipei were the big surprise, while Hang Yuan-New Taipei also challenged, while defending champions Taiwan Steel-Tainan City hit their stride in mid-season to lurk in third spot.
In the second half of the season, Taiwan Steel went on a winning streak, putting pressure on the other front-runners and setting a tight finish.
Heading into the final round late last month, all three clubs were still in the hunt, but Sunny Bank got knocked out of the race by losing 0-2 to Hang Yuan, while Taiwan Steel squeaked past Taichung Futuro with a 2-1 victory.
It would come down to a showdown against Hang Yuan on May 30, a make-up game at home as Taiwan Steel had taken part in an Asian Challenge Cup qualifier in October last year.
Both teams were on 41 points, although the Steelers had the advantage on goal-difference.
Hang Yuan needed three points in the season finale, but they faltered, as Haitian forward Benchy Estama netted the only goal for the Steelers to clinch the title.
Estama picked up the ball near the center circle, pushed into the opposition’s final third, then with defenders closing in, sent a pass to Brazilian teammate Matheus Porto.
Porto struck a first-time low shot, which Hang Yuan’s Dutch-Taiwanese goalkeeper Odo Jacobs did well to parry, but Estama followed up to slot home the rebound.
Taiwan Steel finished on 44 points after 20 league matches for their sixth consecutive TPFL title, while Hang Yuan came close but stumbled at the final hurdle and settled for second spot, while Sunny Bank achieved their highest placement of third.
In women’s soccer, it also came down to the final day, when Hang Yuan beat Hualien City 2-0 on May 23, while Kaohsiung Attackers trounced Valkyrie FC of Taipei 5-0.
Hang Yuan signed four Japanese players at the start of the season and the move paid dividends, as they completed the campaign with 54 points.
They made history by capturing the club’s first Taiwan women’s soccer league title, while Kaohsiung Attackers, the defending champions, finished as runners-up on 52 points.
In their season finale against Hualien, Hang Yuan depended on two Japanese starters scoring on either side of halftime to secure the league crown. Kotomi Nitta scored in the 18th minute and Moe Ota notched a late goal.
“We had to overcome obstacles, injuries and numerous other challenges through difficult struggles this season, but our players always supported each other, fighting on with strong determination to the end. It was not easy, needing arduous efforts on the road to earn this league title,” a Hang Yuan statement said.
“This championship trophy does not just show the end result, but it is the harvest for the fruits of our labor, the many days and months of diligence and hard work. It also represents our team’s core values of believing in ourselves, having good discipline and trusting in each other,” the statement said.
After letting another big lead slip with an error-strewn performance at the French Open on Wednesday, top-ranked Aryna Sabalenka felt like getting as far away from the courts as possible. “Just want to quit tennis right now,” Sabalenka said after wasting a lead of a set and two breaks in a 3-6, 7-5, 6-0 loss to Diana Shnaider in the women’s singles quarter-finals. “We’ll see in few days. Hopefully I’ll get back on track mentally.” Sabalenka’s wait for a first French Open title continues despite the four-time major winner leading 4-1 in the second set and being two points from victory while
BIG NAMES GONE: Zverev is the clear favorite for a maiden Grand Slam title, reaching semi-finals for the fifth time in six years and finishing second on three occasions Alexander Zverev on Tuesday breezed past Rafael Jodar to stay on course for an elusive Grand Slam title at the French Open, while Jakub Mensik halted Joao Fonseca’s scintillating run in the quarter-finals. Zverev, the highest-ranked player left in the men’s draw, put an end to Spanish teenager Jodar’s impressive Roland Garros debut, easing into the semi-finals with a 7-6, (7/3), 6-1, 6-3 win. The 29-year-old Zverev is the clear favorite for a maiden Grand Slam title. He has finished runner-up on three occasions, including at the 2024 French Open. “I want to win the matches that are ahead of
Liverpool are in advanced talks with former AFC Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola as they seek a replacement for Arne Slot, reports said on Tuesday. Iraola has emerged as Liverpool’s top target to replace Slot, who was sacked on Saturday last week after a turbulent second season in charge. Liverpool have reportedly agreed a deal in principle to bring the Spaniard, who left Bournemouth at the end of this season, to Anfield. Sporting director Richard Hughes was heavily involved in hiring Iraola during his time at Bournemouth and is again spearheading the recruitment of the highly rated coach. The Reds are
US President Donald Trump said he would attend Game 3 of the NBA Finals on Monday at Madison Square Garden, but said he does not have much sympathy for ordinary basketball fans who cannot afford sky-high ticket prices to do the same. “They can watch it on television,” Trump said aboard Air Force One on Friday as he flew to Wisconsin for an event with farmers, after he was asked about tickets that have climbed as high as US$8,000 each when the New York Knicks and San Antonio Spurs square off in Manhattan for the first time in the series. “It’s sorta
RSS