Coach Viettel: 'Losing HAGL was just an accident'

Viettel is more appreciated before the ball rolls when playing at home, has a better record in the previous 4 rounds. However, coach Thach Bao Khanh's team suddenly lost heavily to HAGL 1-4.

Bui Tien Dung successfully kicked the 11m free kick to help Viettel equalize 1-1 in the 21st minute, eight minutes after letting Chau Ngoc Quang open the scoring. But in the second half, the home team kicked badly. Taking advantage of the opportunity, Tran Minh Vuong, Nguyen Quoc Viet and Paollo scored, bringing the first victory for HAGL in the V-League 2023.

"I'm not shocked. Today, both teams played well. Viettel played well, also created many opportunities, but HAGL converted the chances into better goals," said Mr. Bao Khanh after the loss at the Hang Stadium. Full.

According to coach Viettel, the turning point of the match was the situation when Minh Vuong raised the score to 2-1 for HAGL. After letting the ball touch his hand in the penalty area in the first half, causing the away team to incur a penalty and equalize, Minh Vuong "atonement" perfectly with a beautiful free-kick. This midfielder cut his heart and rolled the ball close to the edge of the net, making goalkeeper Pham Van Phong unable to stop it despite flying at full speed in the 50th minute.

"After Minh Vuong's goal, we had to push the offensive line up, leaving a lot of space behind. HAGL has two strong and fast foreign players, so our domestic defenders are out of place when racing against them", coach Bao Khanh added. "This was just an accident. We will quickly forget it, to prepare for the next matches."

Viettel suffered a great disadvantage in terms of personnel when receiving HAGL. Foreign duo Gieovane and Jefferson Elias were injured and had to take a long-term break. Because the tournament is not yet time to replace the player, coach Thach Bao Khanh can only use one foreign soldier, Jaha. But the Uzbek midfielder played in low form, could not intercept, often fouled and one of those situations led to Minh Vuong's free kick. Coach Thach Bao Khanh then had to withdraw Jaha to the field, accepting the kick with all internal soldiers.

This is Viettel's first loss in the V-League 2023. Coach Thach Bao Khanh's army fell to 6th with 6 points. The next match they will be the guest of the team that is at the bottom of the table Da Nang on April 12.