Hai Phong is unbeaten in the V-League 2023
Distracting in the first few minutes is becoming a habit of Hai Phong when playing at home this season. In the first match, they let Binh Duong score in the second minute. Going to the match against Ha Tinh today, coach Chu Dinh Nghiem's students also conceded a goal earlier, right from the first minute. Hai Phong's defense forgot Nguyen Van Duc, let this player receive the ball alone, shot down the corner of goalkeeper Nguyen Dinh Trieu, after Diallo missed Dinh Thanh Trung's pass. This is the earliest goal from the beginning of the V-League 2023.
Compared to last season, the current Hai Phong defense system is less solid because there is no longer central defender Bui Tien Dung and midfielder interceptor Moses. Dang Van Toi and Biscou have not met the replacement expectation, and therefore, Hai Phong becomes more vulnerable to the opponent's attacks.
In the 19th minute, coach Chu Dinh Nghiem stood outside the field and shook his head in disgust when his defense broke through for the second time. Pham Trung Hieu could not keep up with the opponent, so Vu Viet Trieu leaned down, in time to touch the ball after the free kick and put the ball behind Dinh Thanh Trung's opponent's defense, raising the score to 2-0.
This match, Hai Phong was absent from the main pillar Mpande - who scored against Binh Duong, helping the team to equalize 2-2 - because of a groin injury. Trieu Viet Hung also had some physical problems, so he only sat on the bench, affecting the team's ball making. Hai Phong's hopes rested on Nguyen Hai Huy's shoulder, and despite being tormented by Ha Tinh, the captain's midfielder still had an excellent match. In the 22nd minute, he was present at the right time to kick back to shorten the score to 1-2 after Janclesio used his chest to break the free kick.
Hai Huy's table helped Hai Phong to improve his spirit, holding the ball to more than 70% and pushing Ha Tinh back deep in defense. They created many delicious opportunities, but could not score more in the first half against an excellent Duong Quang Tuan in the away team's wooden frame. In the 32nd minute, despite being out of sight, Ha Tinh's goalkeeper used his foot to clamp the ball right on the line after Tuan Anh's sinking shot. Three minutes later, Quang Tuan saved again for the visitors when, blocking Carlos Herrera's close-range header.
When the attack was hard at work looking for an equalizer, Hai Phong's defense made a mistake again. Biscou lost the ball and opened the door for Ha Tinh to attack. Tran Phi Son's shot then hit Tran Anh Hung, creating a difficult trajectory to stop goalkeeper Nguyen Dinh Trieu, raising the score to 3-1 in the 40th minute.
In the 58th minute, coach Chu Dinh Nghiem launched Trieu Viet Hung and Nguyen Thanh Dong on the field, and the duo immediately contributed to the table to shorten the score to 2-3 after only two minutes. Viet Hung took a corner kick, Thanh Dong hit his heel. Although startled when the ball came, in order to touch his hand close to his body, Hai Huy still managed to volley to the roof of Ha Tinh's net at a tight angle.
Hai Phong pressed the opponent, holding the ball 67%, launching 10 shots against Ha Tinh's one in the second half. However, their efforts were only rewarded once with Hai Huy's goal. Towards the end of the game, Ha Tinh retreated deeper, gathered all the squad, defended many floors and preserved the score 3-2 until the end of time.
This result caused Hai Phong to lose the first match in the V-League 2023, dropping to sixth with 5 points. Because the V-League took a break for the U20 Vietnam team to attend the Asian finals, Hai Phong won't play the next match until April 8, as a guest of the Hanoi Police.
