Wednesday, January 27, 2010 – Chinese Taipei Girls team had won their first game against Hong Kong on Day 1 with a score of 27 (Taipei) : 11 (Hong Kong) and met Hong Kong in the second game of the tournament on Day 2. The starting line-up for Hong Kong featured their top player number 4, Leung Sin Ying, in the center, Cheung Mei Ngo, Hui Wai Yee, Mak Wing Tung, Wong Wing Tung, Yiu Hei Yan and Poon Kwan Yee. The first shot on goal was attempted by Taipei but Poon Kwan Yee held the golden zero by making a chose-shot save. Score remained at 0-0 for the first 2 minutes. The zero was broken by Huang Wen-Yu from Taipei from a left 2nd man position and the second goal for Taipei closely ensued which was scored by Koh Fu Mei, 17, giving Taipei a lead of 2 goals within the starting few minutes of the game.
Hong Kong’s left winger, 11, Cheung Mei Ngo, was one of the meanest wing players in her offence and dominated the left offence wing of the game play for Hong Kong. She was quick in her steppings to cut through the defence and took intelligent shots through identifying the angles of the goalpost and goalkeeper which gave her the highest probability of a successful shot before releasing the ball. She has impressed the audience with her speed and cunning ability to exploit any loopholes in the defence. Her strengths are complemented by her team mate, Leung Sin Ying, who played an excellent playmaker and center. Sin Ying has strong and sharp shots which was an obvious concern for the opponents who had since been having 2 defenders on her whenever she attempted to attack.
As the score came to 1 (Hong Kong) : 8 (Taipei), Hong Kong coach, made a good call for a time-out which gave the teams a 1-minute break to re-organise and recover. The return to the court saw a more organised Hong Kong team which increased their frequency of attacks and speed of passing. Game play revolved around Cheung Mei Ngo, Leung Sin Ying and Wong Wing Tung, making very quick passes and running around. Most shots came from Hong Leung Sin Ying and Cheung Mei Ngo as Taipei stepped up on their defence on Hong Kong. Taipei started their defence line from 10m, making the penetration of their defence formation an uphill task for Hong Kong to go beyond the 9m line to get a decent distance for shots. Hong Kong made an almost successful shot at 7m but was foiled by a rough tackle from Taipei’s Lin Hsin-Yi. Hong Kong was awarded a penalty and was converted by Leung Sin Ying.
Taipei’s left winger Huang Wen-Yu displayed excellent footwork and bodychecks to open up Hong Kong’s right defence which creating an opportunity for herself to attempt a close-range shot from the 6m line. Wen-Yu’s shot was denied by Hong Kong’s goalkeeper Poon Kwan Yee who made an instinctive save to deflect the ball and saving Hong Kong’s scoreline. The first half ended with 6 goals to Hong Kong and 15 goals to Chinese Taipei.
The Taipei players are comparatively superior in physique, having a greater average height and bigger build. Despite of an obvious disadvantage in numbers, having only three reserves on the bench to rotate, their fitness appeared to be holding up very well in the game which would only provide most with a hint of the demands of their training regime. Taipei in offence mode is a highly anticipated part of the game. Their offence set-plays and individual players’ style had been a delight for the audience with quick passing and aggressive moves. Taipei players’ shots are powerful which pose a threat for the goalkeeper with their near-shots and even 9m-shots.
Taipei’s Huang Wen Yu is among the strongest players among all teams present for the tournament. Her strong physique commands respect on court and has been evident when she won most of the challenges on court. Her power shots coupled with nimble footwork often threatened to tear the nettings apart or dent the goalpost, making it exciting to watch her in action. 
Going into the 2nd half of the game, Hong Kong’s Wong Wing Tung gave away a 7-m penalty to Taipei when she made an illegal block of the Taipei winger making a shot. Taipei converted the penalty and continued on strong in the game, scoring another goal within the next minute. Taipei’s Shin Wei-Ju brought two Hong Kong defending players sprawling on the ground with her strong entry into the 6m line. In her challenge for the ball with a Taipei player, Hong Kong’s Leung Sin Ying received a blow in her body and was led off the court with an encouraging round of applause from the audience. Hong Kong’s team was hit with a consecutive injury when Chan Kam Ling was led off the court from a minor head injury to seek treatment. A spectacular offence move was created by Hong Kong’s Leung Sin Yin who dribbled passed 2 Taipei defenders from mid-court and passed the ball at 9m to partner Yiu Hei Yan speeding down the right wing who flew passed the 6m line to take a low-shot below the feet of Taipei’s keeper. With 9 minutes left on the clock, Hong Kong’s coach called for a time-out as Hong Kong fell behind Taipei by 14 points at the score of 10 (Hong Kong) : 24 (Taipei). 
Hong Kong’s center player, Chan Kam Ling, took up a pivot’s role and tried to create confusion in Taipei’s defence. However, Taipei did not fumble and was disciplined in each of their roles and positions, keeping Hong Kong’s offence at bay. Leung Sin Ying and Cheung Mei Ngo was a formidable duo with their telepathic passing and speed runs which often ended with a conversion of point for Hong Kong. Both finished the game as top scorers of the match for Hong Kong with 4 goals each. Huang Wen-Yu scored an impressive 9 goals finishing off as the top scorer of the whole match followed by Taipei’s Wang Yu-Fen with 6 goals to her name in this game. Once again, Taipei displayed their prowess and proved to be the better team with a second win over Hong Kong Girls’ Team with a final score of 11 (Hong Kong) : 29 (Taipei).
Written by: Janelle Koh
Photos taken by: Meiyin
No comments:
Post a Comment