After a 4-1 defeat to Chinese Super League side Shandong Luneng in the AFC Champions League play-off match last week, Hanoi dropped to the Group F at the AFC Cup - the second continental tier competition followed the AFC Champions League - and faced Nagaworld in their Group F opener yesterday evening.
With great determination to compete at continental level, combined with a home advantage, Hanoi quickly proved their superb performance over the underdog opponents. After just over five minutes of the game, the hosts found their opener with Duy Manh’s decisive rocket from long range.
The gap was doubled only seven minutes later, this time foreign player Oseni Ganiyu scored from close range after a convenient pass by teammate Van Dung.
Hanoi's pressure from a corner in the 18th minute forced Leng Makara scored an own goal to make it 3-0 after just the first 20 minutes.
The home team continued to overwhelm the game in the rest of the first half, resulting in another goal, taken from the penalty spot by captain Van Quyet, to make the score 4-0 two minutes before half time.
Hanoi’s captain Van Quyet in action during their AFC Cup Group F opener with Cambodia’s Nagaworld FC at Hanoi’s Hang Day Stadium, February 26. (Photo: Hanoi FC)
Just three minutes after the break, the Cambodian side once again conceded another goal from outside the penalty area by national squad member Hung Dung, before Oseni found his second goal in the 68th minute.
The Nigerian striker then had two additional goals in the 75th and 81st minutes to close his well-performing day with a poker. Alternating to those were the two goals from Van Dung and Van Dai in the 72nd and 88th, respectively.
A walk on Hanoi's Hang Day Stadium ended with a 10-0 victory for the hosts, the heaviest win in the continental competition so far, helping Hanoi FC firmly stand at the top of Group F, above Tampines Rovers (Singapore) who beat hosts Yangon United (Myanmar) 3-1 the same day. The top two teams in the group will encounter in the second match day in Singapore on March 12.
Hanoi FC and Nagaworld FC’s players in action during their AFC Cup Group F opener at Hanoi’s Hang Day Stadium, February 26. (Photo: Hanoi FC)
* Previously, on Tuesday, the remaining Vietnamese representatives in the competition, Becamex Binh Duong, who are also Vietnam’s Super Cup holders, tied in a goalless draw with hosts Persija Jakarta (Indonesia).
