Chinese Taipei dominate Timor-Leste to enter World Cup Qualifiers Round 2

Chinese Taipei won 7-0 on aggregate

Chinese Taipei cruised into the next stage in style after defeating Timor-Leste 3-0 in the second leg of their FIFA World Cup 2026 and AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027 Preliminary Joint Qualification Round 1 tie on Monday.

Chinese Taipei’s three-goal blitz in the first half gave them a 7-0 aggregate win, taking them through to Round 2, where they will have Oman, Kyrgyz Republic and Malaysia for company in Group D. 

Timor-Leste dictated the early proceedings against a Chinese Taipei side who came into the tie with a 4-0 cushion from the first leg.

Joao Pedro almost caught Chinese Taipei by surprise in the seventh minute when he sent a well-timed through ball to Cristevao Fernandes, only for the midfielder to be outmuscled by Fong Shao-chi.

Fernandes tried to make amends moments later when he sent a dangerous ball to a lurking Joao Bosco but Chinese Taipei keeper Pan Wen-Chieh only had to make a routine catch.

Timor-Leste came close again a minute later with Pedro starting the move from the centre but Olagar Xavier sent his long-range effort off target.

Chinese Taipei kicked into high gear in the 18th minute, opening the scoring through Yu Chia-huang, who exchanged passes with Ange Samuel before slotting between the legs of Timor-Leste keeper Filonito Nogueira.

A swift counter attack a minute later saw Chinese Taipei doubling their advantage after Samuel gained possession down the middle before forcing Nogueira to deflect his save onto the path of Wu Yen-Shu for a fine finish.

Samuel then showed his class in the 23rd minute when he nodded home Chinese Taipei’s third goal off Fong Shao-Chi’s cross from the left flank.

Despite having a mountain to climb, Timor-Leste raced off the blocks at the start of the second half but struggled to trouble Chinese Taipei with Filomeno seeing his effort to find space go to waste.

Pedro came close to breaking their duck in the 62nd minute when he dispossessed Gao Wei-jie but Pan rushed off his area to clear the danger.

That was to be it as Chinese Taipei kept Timor-Leste at bay for the remainder of the half to secure the win and passage into the next round.