Hanoi Police FC climbed to the top of Group B in the ASEAN Club Championship by defeating Lion City Sailors 5-0 at Hang Day Stadium on the evening of September 26.
Hanoi Police FC has shown contrasting performances in domestic and international competitions. In the V-League, they have been underwhelming, with a 1-1 draw against Hai Phong and a 0-1 loss to Thanh Hoa. However, in the ASEAN Club Championship, Coach Mano Polking’s squad has excelled, securing victories against both Buriram United (Thailand) and Lion City Sailors (Singapore).
With striker Alan Grafite injured, Polking deployed Leo Artur as the central forward, moving him from his usual wing position. Supporting him were Le Van Do and Nguyen Dinh Bac, who frequently swapped positions on the wings. Midfielder Vitor also pushed forward unexpectedly, playing almost as a second striker at times.
This tactical adjustment proved highly effective, as all three forward players managed to get on the scoresheet.
The opening goal for Hanoi Police FC came in the 30th minute. After a throw-in and some quick, fluid passes on the right wing, Van Do delivered a perfect cross to Vu Van Thanh, who squared the ball for Leo Artur to tap in from close range.
Lion City Sailors, currently sitting atop the Singapore Premier League with 11 wins and two draws from 15 matches, had impressed in the AFC Champions League Two by defeating Zhejiang (China) 2-0. However, in the ASEAN Club Championship, they have struggled, having lost 0-3 to Borneo Samarinda (Indonesia) in their opening match.
The Singaporean side appeared lethargic and disjointed in this match, with little offensive output and continuous defensive errors.
In the 60th minute, Hanoi Police FC doubled their lead when Dinh Bac cut inside from the left and fired a powerful shot into the near post. It was Dinh Bac’s first goal for Hanoi Police FC. The young player, born in 2004, had been released by SLNA before being picked up by Quang Nam, where he began to rise in prominence. He was eventually called up to the national team by Coach Philippe Troussier, famously scoring against Japan in the 2024 Asian Cup.
Just seven minutes after Dinh Bac’s goal, Hanoi Police FC capitalized on another mistake from Lion City’s goalkeeper, Izwan, who failed to deal with a corner, allowing Van Do to score from close range and make it 3-0.
The star of the night, however, was undoubtedly Leo Artur. After his simple first goal, he scored a stunning long-range strike in the 69th minute to put Hanoi Police FC 4-0 ahead. Coach Polking, watching from the sidelines, was visibly delighted and astonished by the quality of the goal. Artur completed his hat-trick in the 86th minute with another effort from outside the box. Though initially flagged offside, the goal was eventually awarded after VAR review.
With the resounding 5-0 victory, Hanoi Police FC moved to the top of Group B. Their next match in the ASEAN Club Championship is scheduled for January 9, 2025, when they will travel to face Kaya–Iloilo (Philippines).
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