A solitary penalty from Jairo Rodrigues sealed a hard-fought 1-0 victory for Hoang Anh Gia Lai (HAGL) over Hanoi FC in Round 11 of the V.League 2024-2025, delivering a stunning result at Hang Day Stadium.
Hanoi FC entered the match with significant momentum, coming off a victory against Da Nang to reignite their title challenge. Additionally, the home team had a dominant record against HAGL, including a 2-0 win at Hang Day last season. Meanwhile, HAGL faced mounting pressure after three consecutive away losses, making this encounter a pivotal test for both teams.
The game’s intensity was evident from the opening minutes. In the 6th minute, Hanoi’s Dinh Hai was shown a yellow card for a dangerous tackle on Van Son of HAGL. However, following a VAR review, referee Nguyen Viet Duan upgraded the card to red, leaving Hanoi FC with ten players for the remainder of the match.
Despite being a man down, Hanoi FC pushed forward. In the 14th minute, Van Quyet delivered a precise cross to Duy Manh, whose header narrowly missed the target. Moments later, Duy Manh found himself at the center of controversy. In the 29th minute, his off-the-ball contact with an HAGL forward resulted in a penalty for the visitors after a VAR consultation.
Jairo Rodrigues stepped up to the spot in the 35th minute and calmly converted, striking the ball into the left corner to give HAGL a crucial lead. The goal shifted the game’s momentum, with Hanoi FC pressing for an equalizer and HAGL relying on counterattacks.
HAGL had opportunities to extend their lead, notably through Ngoc Quang and Minh Vuong, whose combination play repeatedly exposed Hanoi’s defense. However, Minh Vuong squandered two clear chances to double the advantage. Hanoi FC, for their part, created a handful of chances, but efforts from Van Quyet and Duy Manh were off target.
In the second half, Hanoi FC ramped up the pressure, pushing HAGL into a defensive posture. However, the visitors’ disciplined backline stifled the home side’s attacks. As frustration mounted, Hanoi FC received a lifeline in the dying moments of the match. In stoppage time, HAGL defender A Hoang was penalized for a challenge inside the box, granting Hanoi a chance to equalize from the spot.
Tuấn Hải stepped up in the 90+11th minute but struck the crossbar, squandering Hanoi’s golden opportunity to salvage a point. The miss sealed Hanoi’s fate, and despite additional late chances for HAGL, the match ended 1-0.
This victory propels Hoang Anh Gia Lai to sixth place in the standings with 16 points, while Hanoi FC drops to fourth with 17 points. The result not only disrupts Hanoi’s title ambitions but also highlights HAGL’s resilience in a challenging season.
For HAGL, this win could mark a turning point as they aim to climb further up the table, while Hanoi FC faces pressure to regroup and regain their form in the coming rounds.
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