Macau met Guam at Kai Tak Youth Sports Ground on Saturday afternoon (14th December) for the EAFF E-1 Football Championship Preliminary Competition 2024 (Group A) fixture. Guam beat Macau by 2:1 and promoted to the finals.
Macau met Guam at Kai Tak Youth Sports Ground on Saturday afternoon (14th December) for the EAFF E-1 Football Championship Preliminary Competition 2024 (Group A) fixture. Guam beat Macau by 2:1 and promoted to the finals.
Guam started brightly, demonstrating their attacking intent in the 7th minute when the dynamic winger James Gomes latched onto Ito's precise diagonal ball before whipping in a dangerous cross, only to see Oz Rocca's goal-bound header expertly parried by the Macau goalkeeper Ho Man Fai.
The action swung to the other end moments later, as Macau orchestrated their first meaningful attack. Midfielder Ng Lai Teng threaded an incisive through ball to striker Leong Chi Seng, who blazed his effort narrowly wide of the upright from inside the penalty area.
In an end-to-end affair, both sides displayed attacking prowess. The 10th minute saw Kyle Halehale deliver an exquisite long ball into Macau's danger zone, where Jason Cunliffe exhibited excellent chest control before unleashing a left-footed drive that forced a fingertip save from the keeper.
As the half progressed, Guam began to assert their dominance. Their pressure nearly paid dividends in the 19th minute when Jason Cunliffe's pinpoint corner kick found Alec Taitague, whose powerful header sailed agonizingly over the crossbar during a goalmouth scramble.
The woodwork came to Macau's rescue in the 28th minute, as Nainoa Norton's thunderous left-footed strike from the edge of the box cannoned off the post following a half-cleared defensive effort.
Guam's persistence finally bore fruit three minutes later. The industrious James Gomes showcased his dribbling skills to beat his marker on the left flank before delivering an inch-perfect cross for Leon Morimoto, who showed remarkable composure to finish from an acute angle, making it 1:0 for Guam.
However, Macau restored parity in the 41st minute after Dion Carlos Choi was upended in the box by Pithot following Lei Cheng Lam's clever pass. Lei Cheng Lam stepped up confidently to dispatch the spot-kick with his left foot, sending the keeper the wrong way.
The sides went into the interval deadlocked at 1-1 after an entertaining first half.
Macau emerged from the break with renewed vigor, creating the first clear-cut opportunity in the 53rd minute. Cheong Hoi San's whipped free-kick found Sou Hin Nang unmarked, but his close-range effort was brilliantly saved by the keeper's outstretched leg.
The momentum stayed with Macau, and in the 58th minute, Leong Chi Seng demonstrated excellent footwork to create space in a tight angle, though his subsequent effort sailed over the crossbar.
Guam weathered the storm and began to create chances of their own. In the 70th minute, the ever-dangerous James Gomes delivered another testing cross from the left flank, but Jason Cunliffe's first-time effort was smothered by the alert goalkeeper.
The decisive moment came in the 73rd minute when Guam regained the lead through a well-worked move. After the keeper could only parry James Gomes' initial strike from Jason Cunliffe's assist, the predatory Alec Taitague was quickest to react, tucking home the rebound to make it 2:1.
In a frantic finale, Macau launched wave after wave of attacks in search of an equalizer. Cheong Hoi San and Marcos Cheong both saw their goal-bound efforts bravely blocked by the resolute Guam defense. In a last throw of the dice, even goalkeeper Ho Man Fai ventured forward for a corner, but his powerful header cleared the crossbar in stoppage time.
The final whistle confirmed Guam's victory, securing their spot in the EAFF E-1 Football Championship Preliminary Competition 2024 finals with a 2:1 victory over Macau.