At Hang Day stadium, Hanoi FC debuted forwards Luiz Fernando and Ferreira Willian. The team dominated the match, controlling 67% of possession and taking 21 shots, but couldn't find the back of the net against HAGL.

Tran Trung Kien, the last line of defense, continued his impressive form since winning the 2025 AFF U-23 Championship with Vietnam. He made a series of impressive saves, frustrating the home team's strikers.

Goalkeeper Tran Trung Kien made 9 saves to help HAGL draw 0-0 with Hanoi FC in round 2 of the 2025-2026 V-League at Hang Day Stadium, Hanoi on 23/8/2025. Photo: Hoang Huynh

In the 35th minute, Luiz Fernando cut inside from the right and curled a left-footed shot towards the far corner, but Trung Kien was there to deny him. In the 4th minute of added time, Hanoi FC executed a clever corner kick routine, leading to Van Quyet's volley from outside the box. Le Xuan Tu met the bouncing ball with a close-range header, but Trung Kien reacted quickly to tip it over the bar.

Five minutes into the second half, Kien made a double save, first denying Le Xuan Tu in a one-on-one situation and then parrying Van Quyet's long-range effort. As the match wore on, the pressure from the capital team intensified, but the story remained the same.

In the 88th minute, Willian dribbled confidently through the midfield before unleashing a powerful shot from distance towards the top right corner, but Trung Kien was equal to it. From the ensuing corner, Pham Xuan Manh's volley was also kept out by the 2003-born goalkeeper. Even when Kien was finally beaten by Van Tung's header in the first minute of second-half stoppage time, center-back Jairo Filho was on hand to clear the ball off the line.

Pham Tuan Hai (white) and the Hanoi FC strikers were frustrated by HAGL's defense. Photo: Hoang Huynh

The final dramatic moment came in the 7th minute of added time. Nguyen Hai Long feigned a shot, dribbled past two HAGL players into the box, and then squared the ball to center-back Thanh Chung, who tapped it into the empty net. While the goalscorer was down with cramps, his teammates, coach, and the Hanoi FC fans celebrated wildly, believing their efforts had been rewarded.

On the opposite side, Technical Director Vu Tien Thanh continuously complained from the sidelines. He received a yellow card and was told to calm down by referee Nguyen Manh Hai while waiting for the VAR review.

Ultimately, fate was not on the home side's side. After a 7-minute VAR check, referee Hai announced that Thanh Chung had been offside. There was one more play before Hai blew the final whistle. Hanoi players protested, but the referee signaled that the 6 minutes of added time had long expired.

Still without a win this season, Hanoi FC sits in 11th place with one point and a -1 goal difference. Meanwhile, HAGL is 13th with one point and a -3 goal difference.

Starting lineups:

Hanoi FC: Quan Van Chuan, Do Duy Manh, Thanh Chung, Adriel Tadeu, Dau Van Toan, Pierre Lamothe, Le Xuan Tu, Van Quyet, Pham Tuan Hai, Luiz Fernando, Daniel Passira

HAGL: Tran Trung Kien, Dinh Quang Kiet, Jairo Filho, Vo Phuoc Bao, Phan Du Hoc, Thanh Nhan, Cao Hoang Minh, Hoang Vinh Nguyen, Fraga Rodrigo, Ryan Ha, Gabriel Conceicao.

Hieu Luong