Nguyen Hai Long’s last-minute strike earned Hanoi FC a 1-1 draw against league leaders Thanh Hoa in Round 6 of the LPBank V-League 2024-2025, on November 3. The goal came at the brink of defeat, allowing Hanoi to salvage a crucial point on the road.
The game looked lost for Hanoi as they trailed in added time. With the final whistle imminent, foreign player Joao Pedro rose to challenge for a header, sending the ball into Hai Long’s path. Positioned on the edge of the box, Hai Long created space and curled a left-footed shot that struck the far post and ricocheted into the net. The goal sparked jubilant celebrations as the Hanoi players gathered in the corner, while Thanh Hoa’s players expressed visible frustration. Coach Popov, hands in his pockets, quietly walked away from the sideline, visibly disappointed.
Hanoi FC has struggled with foreign player performance this season, with head coach Le Duc Tuan previously lamenting, “Our foreign players don’t perform as well as they looked in scouting videos.” This frustration saw him bench both Jaha and Joao Pedro, opting to start with 10 Vietnamese players and one overseas Vietnamese, center-back Colonna. Even captain Nguyen Van Quyet, not in peak condition, was omitted from the starting lineup.
Early in the match, Hanoi suffered a setback when center-back Dao Van Nam sustained an injury, forcing Coach Duc Tuan to bring in 20-year-old Le Van Ha. Meanwhile, Thanh Hoa fielded all three of their foreign players, but they still found it difficult to gain an advantage over Hanoi. The first half was tightly contested, with neither team creating any clear scoring opportunities.
Hanoi’s attack gained momentum in the second half with the introduction of Van Quyet. In the 56th minute, the veteran striker escaped his marker to receive a through ball, rounded Thanh Hoa’s goalkeeper Xuan Hoang, and slotted the ball into an empty net. However, after a lengthy review by VAR, referee Nguyen Viet Duan ruled the goal offside.
Nine minutes later, Hanoi found themselves behind. A costly mistake from Do Hung Dung allowed Thanh Hoa’s A Mit to steal the ball deep in Hanoi’s half. Lucas latched onto a pass, finishing clinically past goalkeeper Van Hoang to give the hosts a 1-0 lead.
Pushing for an equalizer, Hanoi ramped up their offensive efforts. In the 69th minute, Xuan Tu’s shot beat goalkeeper Xuan Hoang, but defender Van Loi managed a last-second clearance on the goal line. Coach Duc Tuan then introduced Jaha and Joao Pedro to bolster Hanoi’s attack.
As Thanh Hoa dropped back defensively, Xuan Hoang received a yellow card for time-wasting in an effort to preserve the narrow lead. But just as Thanh Hoa seemed poised for victory, Hai Long’s moment of brilliance in the dying seconds forced them to settle for a draw.
This draw marks the second consecutive match in which Thanh Hoa conceded a last-minute equalizer, having previously drawn 1-1 with HAGL in similar fashion. Despite the setback, Thanh Hoa remains atop the standings with 11 points, tied with The Cong but holding a one-point lead over close contenders such as Binh Duong, Hong Linh Ha Tinh, and Nam Dinh. Hanoi sits in eighth place, only two points behind Thanh Hoa, highlighting the competitive nature of this season’s V-League.
In Round 7, Thanh Hoa will seek to maintain their lead when they face Hai Phong, while Hanoi FC hosts Nam Dinh as they look to climb further up the standings.
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