HONG KONG (Interstat) — Tai Po scored three goals and defeated Hong Kong Rangers 3-1 on Sunday in a competition match at Hong Kong Rangers’ home ground. The visiting side fell behind only after an early lead was erased before halftime, then controlled the decisive stages after the break. Tai Po finished with three goals total, while Hong Kong Rangers managed one. The result gave the visitors a road victory in the competition.

Marquinhos gave Tai Po the lead in the 21st minute, finishing to cap an early spell of pressure. The opening goal came after sustained possession from Tai Po, and Marquinhos’ finish gave the visitors a lead they protected for most of the first half. Hong Kong Rangers answered in first-half stoppage time when Flavio Tico scored in the 45th minute plus one. That goal leveled the match and sent the teams into halftime even, but it did not change the broader pattern. Tai Po had created the better chances before the break and continued to push after the restart.

Murilo restored Tai Po’s advantage in the 66th minute, scoring what proved to be the winning goal. The game turned again when Murilo scored, and Tai Po’s midfield continued to supply chances as the second half wore on. Wallisson Bahia then sealed the result in the 83rd minute, scoring after coming off the bench. The late strike removed any doubt and completed a three-goal performance for Tai Po. Hong Kong Rangers could not find a second response after Flavio Tico’s first-half equalizer.

The key individual performances included the following. Marquinhos played 90 minutes and scored one goal. Flavio Tico played 86 minutes and scored one goal for Hong Kong Rangers. Murilo played 72 minutes, scored one goal and received a yellow card. Wallisson Bahia played 18 minutes and scored one goal. Tai Po’s Weverton Rangel was booked in the 27th minute, and Murilo was cautioned in the 38th minute. Those were the only yellow cards recorded in the match.

Tai Po used substitutions at several points. Wong Hin-Sum was involved in a change in the 46th minute, and Fernando followed in the 58th. Murilo and Paulinho were involved in changes in the 72nd minute. Marquinhos was substituted in the 90th minute plus three. Hong Kong Rangers made changes in the 69th minute with Ho C. J. and Tsang C., in the 75th minute with Cheung C. and Lam C. Y., and in the 86th minute with Flavio Tico and Nathan Lourenco.

With the victory, Tai Po is now 1 win and 0 losses in this competition and 3 wins and 2 losses across all competitions. Hong Kong Rangers is now 0 wins and 1 loss in this competition and 0 wins and 1 loss across all competitions. Tai Po entered the match after a mixed run that included home wins over BC Rangers and Eastern AA and losses to Hong Kong FC and North District. The result gave Tai Po a positive start in the competition and left Hong Kong Rangers still seeking its first win.

Tai Po’s schedule now turns toward a series of Premier League fixtures. Kowloon City and Kwoon Chung Southern are set to visit Tai Po, while Tai Po is scheduled to travel to Eastern District SA, BC Rangers, Sha Tin, Kowloon City and Eastern AA. Tai Po also has home matches against Kitchee, Lee Man Warriors and North District ahead. Those matches are listed as Premier League fixtures on the schedule.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of Hong Kong Rangers 2, Tai Po 1. Interstat’s ELO system had projected Hong Kong Rangers with a 60.9 percent probability to win. Tai Po’s three-goal performance instead produced a result that ran against those projections.