Hanoi Police FC upset Thai league champions in ASEAN Club Championship opener
Friday, August 23, 2024, 11:33 GMT+7
Hanoi Police FC began their 2024-25 ASEAN Club Championship campaign with a 2-1 victory over Buriram United, three-time consecutive Thai league champions, at Hang Day Stadium in Hanoi on Thursday.
Hanoi Police FC, leveraging their home-field advantage, confidently started the match by scoring in the third minute.
Phan Van Duc handled the ball skillfully and fired a long-range shot that beat goalkeeper Siwarak Tedsungnoen.
This early goal allowed Hanoi Police FC to dominate at Hang Day Stadium, with playmaker Nguyen Quang Hai orchestrating several attacks.
However, Hai’s foreign teammates Alan Grafite and Vitao Nascimento missed ideal opportunities.
In the second half, Buriram United adjusted their strategy, becoming more aggressive and seizing their chance to attack.
In the 49th minute, Buriram United equalized after Hanoi Police FC’s defense lost concentration.
Jefferson Tabinas capitalized on this lapse to score with a close-range header.
The game became intensely competitive, and in the 66th minute, Hanoi Police FC regained the lead at 2-1, thanks to a goal from Grafite following an accurate cross by Nascimento.
Heavy rain toward the end of the match slowed the pace.
Buriram United could not find another goal as goalkeeper Nguyen Filip made crucial saves to secure the 2-1 victory for Hanoi Police FC in the first match of Group B at the 2024-25 ASEAN Club Championship.
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| Hanoi Police FC's Hoang Van Toan is in action during their opening game in Group B at the 2024-25 ASEAN Club Championship at Hang Day Stadium in Hanoi, August 22, 2024. Photo: Hanoi Police FC |
The 2024-25 ASEAN Club Championship features two Vietnamese teams: Thanh Hoa FC, the 2023 National Cup champions, and Hanoi Police FC, the 2022-23 Vietnamese top-tier V.League 1 champions.
Earlier, Thanh Hoa FC produced a spectacular comeback to defeat Shan United from Myanmar 3-1 in their Group A match.
The next group-stage matches will be held on September 25 and 26.
Thanh Hoa FC will visit Terengganu FC in Malaysia, while Hanoi Police FC will host Lion City Sailors from Singapore.
Thanh Hoa FC are in Group A with BG Pathum United from Thailand, Terengganu and PSM Makassar from Indonesia, Svay Rieng from Cambodia, and Shan United.
Hanoi Police FC are in Group B with Buriram United, Kuala Lumpur from Malaysia, Borneo Samarinda from Indonesia, Kaya-Iloilo from the Philippines, and Lion City Sailors.
Group-stage matches run from Wednesday to February 6, 2025, with teams playing a round-robin format.
The top two teams from each group will advance to the semifinals and finals, both played in a home-and-away format.
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