HAGL drew with Hanoi FC thanks to a penalty
The confrontation on Pleiku field in the last round of the V-League does not make much sense, because Hanoi FC won the championship and HAGL was also relegated. Because the two teams are still facing each other in the semi-finals of the National Cup three days later, the away team gives many substitutes a chance, keeping only Duy Manh, Tuan Hai and two foreign players Tonci and Lucas.
In contrast, HAGL still launched the strongest force, with the motto "kicking the audience before thinking about the semi-finals of the National Cup". Cong Phuong is absent from injury, but Van Toan, Hong Duy, Tuan Anh, Van Thanh, Brandao, Minh Vuong ... are in the starting lineup.
Despite playing with the second team, Hanoi FC played equally and controlled the ball well against HAGL. Striker Tuan Hai is the most dangerous detonator of the away team with his sprints and threats to the opponent's goal. HAGL still showed a way of controlling the ball and attacking the edge, but the opportunities created were not very dangerous. It was not until the 32nd minute that the first dangerous opportunity was created. Lucas handled the ball in the narrow space of the HAGL penalty area and then shot the ball past goalkeeper Tuan Linh, but the crossbar saved HAGL.
Just a minute later, Tonci passed into the penalty area to eliminate Van Thanh, allowing Tuan Hai to comfortably put the ball into the far corner to eliminate Tuan Linh to open the scoring for Hanoi.
With the determination to bid farewell to the V-League with positive results, HAGL stepped up to attack. Van Thanh, Van Toan, Hong Duy all had the opportunity, but could not beat goalkeeper Van Cong. The most significant of them was the situation when Van Toan faced and hit the Hanoi FC goalkeeper in the 38th minute.
In the second half, HAGL worked hard to attack. Xuan Truong was launched into the field to create a mutation. But it wasn't until the 74th minute that the new opportunity came to the Pleiku home team, when midfielder An Sae Hee was fouled in the penalty area, the referee gave the host a penalty. On the 11m mark, defender Vu Van Thanh fooled Van Cong to equalize for the homeowner.
In the last minutes of the match, Van Toan had a chance to face the goalkeeper but missed the post. And Minh Vuong in a relaxed position also headed inaccurately at close range. The draw helped HAGL finish the season with 32 points, ranking sixth overall.
On November 23, HAGL met Hanoi FC again in the semi-finals of the National Cup.
