Lee Chi Kin’s team made the perfect start, Lee Ka Ho swinging his corner from the right towards the far edge of the six-yard box and Moreira outjumped the defence to power a header beyond the static Filip Kurto.

Macarthur looked to respond immediately, Anthony Caceres forcing a reflex save out of Tse Ka Wing in the ninth minute with a right-foot shot that the former Sydney FC man sought to bend around the goalkeeper.

But the Australian side’s hopes were hit deep into first half injury time when Talbot was sent off.

The defender had hesitated when receiving possession on the halfway line and, after Igor Sartori sprinted in to steal the ball, Talbot hauled the winger down and was dismissed as a result.

Weverton threatened to add a second for the hosts eight minutes into the second half when he outmuscled the Macarthur defence near the left touchline before driving towards goal and hitting a low shot that Kurto did well to prevent from going in at the near post.

Moments later Macarthur had a rare opportunity, Tse denying Harry Politidis’ attempt to slot his low shot into the bottom corner of the Tai Po goal as the game started to open up.

Tai Po’s second eventually came, the Hong Kong side striking in the 66th minute. Sartori sprinted down the left before feeding Temelkovski in front of goal, and he laid the ball off for Renner to stroke a left-foot shot past Kurto.

 

Macarthur pulled one back four minutes later, Temelkovski heading Luke Brattan’s in-swinging corner into his own goal but the A-League side were unable to add a second and Tai Po sealed the win.