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Hong Kong goalkeeper Yapp Hung Fai extends to divert the ball away from the goal and bumps the Matao’s Micah Paulino (in blue, right) to prevent a header for goal in injury time during the opening match of the East Asian Cup Round 2 tournament at Mong Kok Stadium in Hong Kong. Hong Kong eventually escaped with a 2-1 win. (courtesy photo)
PRESS RELEASE – The Matao, Guam men’s national football team, forced Hong Kong into survival mode in the opening match of the East Asian Cup Round 2 tournament, keeping the host nation desperately holding on to its 2-1 lead through to the final whistle at Mong Kok Stadium Saturday.
“The message that was said today was that you cannot take anybody at the international level – if (they’re) structured and organized – easy; there are no easy games if the teams are ready,” said Matao head coach Gary White at the post-match press conference. “What our boys did today was earn the respect of the fans as you could see after the game, and hopefully of the other teams we now face.
“It’s been a big turnaround for us – the last time we played Hong Kong, we lost 12-0. So, to be in a game right into the end and lose narrowly by 2-1, it says a lot about what the program is trying to achieve under (Guam Football Association president) Richard Lai. We’re very aggressive about being competitive,” White added.
The soft ground at Mong Kok Stadium aided Hong Kong’s Chan Siu Ki in the second minute, as he took advantage of a split-second opportunity to shoot on frame around a defender who had slipped. Chan later scored again 15 minutes later, heading in a cross from Jaimes McKee.

The Matao’s Jason Cunliffe finds space to take a shot against Hong Kong during the opening match of the East Asian Cup Round 2 tournament at Mong Kok Stadium in Hong Kong. (courtesy photo)
Guam stayed in attacking mode despite conceding the early goals. Ian Adamos created one of the Matao’s best chances to score in the first half, winning the ball from a header and taking it toward the goal around a second defender. Adamos’ right-footed shot attempt in the 36th minute hit the crossbar, prolonging Guam’s quest to get on the scoreboard.
The Matao’s attacking efforts were finally rewarded in the 56th minute. Ryan Guy broke loose from a Hong Kong defender and sprinted with the ball toward the goal, attracting two other defenders and drawing out Hong Kong’s goalkeeper. Swarmed near the goal, Guy sent the ball to Elias Merfalen who scored Guam’s lone goal of the game with a shot to the bottom left corner of the goal.
“I think that Guam has developed very well,” said Hong Kong head coach Kim Pan-Gon during the post-match press conference. “This was a totally different game than last time – especially mentally and physically, Guam is very much improved.

The Matao’s Ryan Guy finds his opportunity to break free from a Hong Kong defender to take possession of the ball and carry it toward the goal. After drawing out Hong Kong’s goalkeeper and attracting two defenders, Guy sent the ball to Elias Merfalen, credited with Guam’s lone goal. (courtesy photo)
“Thanks to Chan Siu Ki, if he didn’t finish two times, we would be really struggling. My plan today was I didn’t want to give him more than 45 minutes, but the situation was not good,” added Kim.
Guam’s next test will be against DPR Korea Monday evening. DPR Korea defeated Chinese Taipei 6-1 in the tournament’s other opening day match. Ri Myong-jun scored twice for DPR Korea and teammates An Il-bom, Pak Song-chul, Ri Kwang-hyok, and Pak Nam-chul each scored once. Chinese Taipei’s lone goal came from Chen Hao-wei in the 79th minute.
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GPS Sports Calendar
December 2023
- SU
- MO
- TU
- WE
- TH
- FR
- SA
Events for November
1st
ISA BOYS SOCCER
IIAAG GIRLS BASKETBALL
ISA GIRLS BASKETBALL
Events for December
2nd
IRON LEGENDS THROWDOWN
ISA HS BASEBALL
HIGH SCHOOL WRESTLING
Events for December
4th
IIAAG BOYS SOCCER
ISA BOYS SOCCER
ISA GIRLS BASKETBALL
Events for December
5th
ISA HS BASEBALL
ISA GIRLS BASKETBALL
IIAAG GIRLS BASKETBALL QUARTERFINALS
Events for December
5th
Events for December
7th
ISA HS BASEBALL
IIAAG BOYS SOCCER PLAYOFFS
Events for December
9th
40th GRC PLUMERIA ROAD RACE
GUAM RUGBY INTERNATIONAL 7s TOURNAMENT
ISA HS BASEBALL
HIGH SCHOOL WRESTLING
IIAAG GIRLS BASKETBALL SEMIFINALS
Events for December
10th
TOUR OF GUAM 2023
GUAM RUGBY INTERNATIONAL 7s TOURNAMENT
Events for December
11th
ISA HS BASEBALL
IIAAG BOYS SOCCER SEMIFINALS
Events for December
12th
ISA HS BASEBALL
ISA GIRLS BASKETBALL
IIAAG GIRLS BASKETBALL FINALS
Events for December
12th
Events for December
14th
ISA HS BASEBALL
IIAAG BOYS SOCCER FINALS
Events for December
16th
3rd GUAM NINJA CHAMPIONSHIP
ISA HS BASEBALL
HIGH SCHOOL WRESTLING
Events for December
16th
Events for December
18th
IIAAG BOYS SOCCER ALL-ISLAND MEETING
Events for December
19th
ISA HS BASEBALL
ISA GIRLS BASKETBALL
Events for December
19th
Events for December
23rd
HIGH SCHOOL WRESTLING
ISA HS BASEBALL FINALS
Events for December
23rd
Events for December
24th
Events for December
25th
Events for December
27th
Events for December
29th
- 31
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
Events for December
30th

Basketball
FAMILIAR FOES TO MEET FOR HOOPS CROWN

Basketball
ISLANDERS AVENGE EARLY SEASON LOSS
COMING SOON …
- IIAAG Girls Basketball Playoffs
- True Grit Rugby Tournament
- IIAAG Boys Soccer Playoffs