Hanoi Police FC head coach Mano Polking expressed frustration over Hoang Anh Gia Lai players allegedly engaging in excessive time-wasting during their 1-0 defeat in Round 7 of the 2024-2025 V-League season. The loss snapped Hanoi Police FC’s four-game unbeaten streak and handed the top spot in the standings to Hoang Anh Gia Lai.
Hanoi Police FC dominated the match statistically, controlling possession at nearly 72% and producing 30 shots—six times more than the home team. However, it was Hoang Anh Gia Lai who scored the only goal of the match in the 25th minute, when Chau Ngoc Quang capitalized on a loose ball following a block by Hugo Gomes.
The second half at Pleiku Stadium saw an unusually lengthy 12 minutes of added time due to multiple stoppages, as Hoang Anh Gia Lai players repeatedly stayed down on the pitch. Even with Hanoi Police FC’s goalkeeper Filip Nguyen pushing forward in the final moments, Hanoi Police FC failed to find an equalizer.
Commenting on the match, Polking said, “Hoang Anh Gia Lai’s players spent about 20-25 minutes lying on the pitch. I would never allow my players to behave that way. With that much time spent on the ground, one has to ask what they were doing to the game. Congratulations to Hoang Anh Gia Lai on the three points, but I feel ashamed that they won in that manner.”
Polking suggested that such time-wasting tactics hinder the growth of Vietnamese football, adding that the referees handled the situation well by compensating with extended stoppage time.
On social media, Hanoi Police FC goalkeeper Filip Nguyen also criticized Hoang Anh Gia Lai’s approach, stating, “Congratulations to Hoang Anh Gia Lai on their win during the first 25 minutes, the period when they actually played football.”
Historically, Hoang Anh Gia Lai has been associated with a commitment to attractive football. Club owner Bau Duc has consistently emphasized the importance of “playing beautifully, even if it means losing,” and has disciplined players for reckless challenges. However, this ethos often left the club struggling for competitiveness, with survival being a common theme each season.
Following the departure of notable players like Nguyen Cong Phuong, Nguyen Tuan Anh, and Luong Xuan Truong, and a partnership with LPBank, Hoang Anh Gia Lai has shifted their approach. Under coach Vu Tien Thanh, the team now employs a more defensive, counter-attacking strategy and is willing to play with tactical fouling when necessary. Earlier this year, The Cong’s coach Nguyen Duc Thang criticized Hoang Anh Gia Lai for aggressive challenges in a 1-0 defeat on May 6, 2024.
In an interview with VnExpress in late October, Coach Thanh stated that Hoang Anh Gia Lai “is no longer just a team playing for show.”
The victory propelled Hoang Anh Gia Lai to the top of the LPBank V-League 2024-2025 standings with 12 points, one point ahead of Thanh Hoa. However, their position remains vulnerable, as Thanh Hoa, The Cong, Ha Tinh, and Nam Dinh all have opportunities to overtake them in upcoming matches.
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