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The Matao’s Dylan Naputi races toward the left flank with the ball facing defensive pressure from Australia’s Michael Marrone in a match of the East Asian Cup Round 2 tournament Friday at Hong Kong Stadium. (courtesy photo)
PRESS RELEASE – The Matao will take the valuable game experience from competition in the East Asian Cup Round 2 tournament to the island’s bid to win in AFC Challenge Cup qualifiers in March next year, Guam’s second appearance since 2006.
Guam’s national football team played its final match of this year’s East Asian Cup Round 2 tournament against FIFA No. 33 Australia, its fourth match in only seven days.
Earlier in the tournament, the Matao impressed Hong Kong fans and international media with a 2-1 performance against the host nation and a 1-1 draw against Chinese Taipei. Fans clamored to get autographs from the team after its 5-0 match against DPR Korea and applauded the Matao’s efforts in its first-ever match against Australia, a 9-0 loss to a team that included at least six players selected to play in World Cup qualifiers, as well as two players from Australia’s list of its top 10 international goal scorers.
“It was a tough game for us for sure,” said Matao head coach Gary White in a post-match press conference. “Four games in seven days is extremely grueling anyway, but when you’re playing at the international level, it’s even worse, obviously … I can’t fault the players’ desire – the Australians came out from the beginning. They had to get the goals. This was probably the hardest they’ll play in the entire tournament and we just happened to be on the end of it.
“Anything we can take from this (tournament) will help us in the Challenge Cup (qualifiers) in March when we go for that. We can only grow from this experience,” White added.
Even before the opening whistle, Guam was at a disadvantage as two Matao starters, Travis Nicklaw and Scott Leon Guerrero, were suspended from play after receiving two yellow cards in three games. Additionally, midfielder Ryan Guy was out of the rotation following an injury from a previous game.
Minutes into the game, Joshua Borja exited following a hamstring injury on a defensive run for the Matao during the match. George Washington High School senior Dylan Naputi filled in for Borja, joining other high school students Christian Schweizer and T.J. Atalig who played the full match.

The Matao’s Thaddeus “T.J.” Atalig goes up for a header against Australia’s Scott Jamieson Friday Hong Kong. Guam fell to the FIFA No. 33 country, 9-0. (courtesy photo)
Aaron Mooy opened scoring for the Australians, taking advantage of a free kick in the 11th minute of the match. Australian forward Eli Babalj scored eight minutes later and teammate Michael Marrone tacked on one more goal in the 41st minute before halftime.
Australia’s Archie Thompson, who has played for his country 45 times and is No. 2 on the country’s list of players with most international goals with 28, entered Saturday’s match in the second half and finished with a hat trick. Australia’s other second half goals came from Babalj, Mark Milligan, and Richard Garcia.
Even with Australia’s clean sheet, the match wasn’t a fully defensive endeavor by Guam, as the Matao had opportunities to score throughout the match. Guam’s Mark Chargualaf, a substitute in the second half, found some space near the penalty box, but Australia’s keeper Eugen Galekovic picked up the shot. Captain Jason Cunliffe and Shawn Nicklaw took free kicks for Guam, but the team was unable to convert on the set-play opportunities.
The Guam-based Matao returned Saturday.
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GPS Sports Calendar
October 2023
- SU
- MO
- TU
- WE
- TH
- FR
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Events for September
30th
Events for October
2nd
ISA H.S CROSS COUNTRY
IIAAG M.S. GIRLS BASKETBALL
Events for October
3rd
IIAAG GIRLS VOLLEYBALL
IIAAG M.S. GIRLS BASKETBALL
Events for October
3rd
Events for October
5th
ISA H.S CROSS COUNTRY
ISA M.S. CROSS COUNTRY
IIAAG M.S. GIRLS BASKETBALL
ISA H.S. GIRLS VOLLEYBALL
Events for October
6th
IIAAG H.S. CROSS COUNTRY
IIAAG GIRLS VOLLEYBALL QUARTERFINALS
HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL
Events for October
7th
ISA H.S. GIRLS VOLLEYBALL
HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL
Events for October
7th
Events for October
9th
ISA H.S CROSS COUNTRY ALL-ISLAND
IIAAG M.S. GIRLS BASKETBALL SEMIFINALS
ISA M.S. BOYS VOLLEYBALL SEMIFINALS
Events for October
12th
ISA M.S. CROSS COUNTRY ALL-ISLAND MEET
ISA H.S. GIRLS VOLLEYBALL
IIAAG M.S. GIRLS BASKETBALL FINALS
Events for October
13th
IIAAG H.S. CROSS COUNTRY ALL-ISLAND MEET
IIAAG GIRLS VOLLEYBALL FINALS
HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL
BRAWL 3
Events for October
14th
ISA H.S. GIRLS VOLLEYBALL
HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL
Events for October
14th
Events for October
15th
Events for October
17th
MEN’S SOCCER: GUAM V SINGAPORE
ISA H.S. GIRLS VOLLEYBALL
Events for October
17th
Events for October
20th
IIAAG GIRLS VOLLEYBALL ALL-ISLAND MEETING
HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL
Events for October
21st
ISA H.S. GIRLS VOLLEYBALL
HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL
Events for October
21st
Events for October
22nd
Events for October
24th
Events for October
28th
ISA H.S. GIRLS VOLLEYBALL
HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL
Events for October
29th
I MAS METGOT COMPETITION (GUAM’S STRONGEST MAN & WOMAN)
Events for October
29th

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FUETSA SNAPS BOMBERS’ 41-GAME WIN STREAK

MMA/Boxing
BRAWL 3 TO PACK A PUNCH WITH LOADED CARD
COMING SOON …
- High school girls volleyball playoffs
- Brawl 3: Oct 13
- Guam’s Strongest Man and Woman Competition October 29