TAI PO, Hong Kong (Interstat) — Tai Po scored twice in the final two minutes of regulation and defeated visiting Southern District 4-2 on Monday in a global football match that swung repeatedly after halftime. Tai Po appeared in control when Lijing Cai scored in the 40th minute and Marquinhos doubled the lead in the second minute of first-half stoppage time. The home side carried that two-goal advantage into the break and looked set to protect it as the second half began. Southern District responded after the break, pulling one back through Kayron in the 71st minute and equalizing when Stefan Golubovic scored in the 74th. The visitors’ comeback forced Tai Po to regroup, and M. Chang H. restored the home side’s lead in the 84th minute before Paulinho sealed the result in the 85th. The late sequence capped a six-goal match and left Southern District with no time to respond again. Tai Po’s win came after a measured first half that featured few clear chances until Cai’s opener changed the match.

Golubovic scored in 90 minutes for Southern District. Marquinhos scored in 90 minutes for Tai Po. Lijing Cai scored in 63 minutes, Paulinho in 44, Kayron in 44 and M. Chang H. in 27. Tai Po’s goals came from four players, while Southern District’s came from two. The match produced six goals after a tighter opening half-hour, with three goals arriving in an eight-minute span from the 71st through the 85th. Southern District’s two second-half strikes briefly changed the momentum before Tai Po answered with two of its own in quick succession. The finish turned a controlled home performance into a tense contest before Tai Po pulled away late.

Gabriel Cividini received a yellow card for Tai Po in the 48th minute, and Fernando was booked in the third minute of second-half stoppage time. Tai Po made substitutions when Leo Rigo entered in the 27th minute, Chan Siu-Kwan P. entered in the 46th and Lijing Cai exited in the 63rd. Southern District brought on Wong Ho-Chun Anson and Landa B. in the 46th minute, Poon Pui-Hin in the 63rd and Cheng Tsz-Sum in the 87th. The late bookings and changes came as the match opened up in the second half, with both sides pushing forward during the closing stretch. Tai Po finished with three substitutions used, while Southern District used four. The changes were spread across both halves as each team sought fresh legs for the final push.

Southern District’s season record in the competition is now one win and one loss. Tai Po’s record in the competition is now three wins, two losses and one draw. Across all competitions, Southern District is now one win and two losses, while Tai Po is four wins, three losses and one draw. Tai Po entered after a scoreless draw with Kwoon Chung Southern and a 1-0 loss to Lion City. The home side had also drawn with Kowloon City, beaten Hong Kong Rangers, lost to Hong Kong FC, beaten BC Rangers and beaten Eastern AA earlier in the campaign. Southern District had beaten Eastern District 3-0 and lost 2-1 at North District. Tai Po’s next match is at Eastern District SA. Southern District will look to bounce back in its next competition match.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of Tai Po 2, Southern District 1. Interstat’s ELO system had projected Tai Po with a 55 percent probability to win. Tai Po had been installed as a pregame favorite with a spread of -0.5. The total score of 6 went under the over/under line of 3.5.