On the evening of February 8, The Cong Viettel secured a 2–1 victory over Hoang Anh Gia Lai in the 12th round of the V-League 2024–2025, keeping them in close pursuit of the league leaders, Nam Dinh. The match was widely anticipated, as both sides had been in impressive form. The Cong Viettel, the home side, had already recorded three consecutive wins—including a dominant 5–0 performance against Song Lam Nghe An and a 1–0 win over current champions Nam Dinh—while Hoang Anh Gia Lai arrived at My Dinh Stadium with high confidence following a 1–0 win over Hanoi FC that ended a 12-year winless streak at Hang Day stadium.
From the start, Viettel surprised many by adopting a high-risk, attacking approach instead of their usual tight, defensive style. In the very first half, they maintained about 65% ball possession and continuously pressured Hoang Anh Gia Lai’s defense. For primary school students, “ball possession” means keeping the ball with your team most of the time, and “attacking approach” means trying hard to score goals rather than just defending.
The breakthrough came early in the 9th minute when Amarildo, after a brilliant move on the left wing, managed to beat Hoang Anh Gia Lai’s goalkeeper Trung Kien with a precise, “surgical” shot into the corner of the goal. With that opening goal, Viettel set the tone for the rest of the match.
Having conceded early, Hoang Anh Gia Lai tried to regain control by switching to a more aggressive, attacking style. However, their efforts were hampered by persistent and well-organized defending from Viettel. Despite Hoang Anh Gia Lai managing only one clear chance in the first half—and even missing it due to poor finishing—the pressure from Viettel remained unrelenting. In the 33rd minute, Wesley Nata, after a rapid breakthrough, delivered a smart pass that once again found Amarildo, who doubled Viettel’s lead with a second goal.
In the second half, Hoang Anh Gia Lai made several changes and pushed forward in search of an equalizer. They improved their ball control and launched several long-range attempts, but the accuracy of their shots was lacking. In the 82nd minute, Marciel managed to cut the deficit by scoring a powerful strike from outside the penalty area. (For primary students, “penalty area” is the large box in front of the goal where special rules apply.) Despite this effort, Hoang Anh Gia Lai could not further capitalize on their chances.
The final result of 2–1 meant that Hoang Anh Gia Lai dropped to 16 points after 12 matches, remaining in sixth place, while The Cong Viettel climbed to 21 points from the same number of games and now occupies third place—just 2 points behind league leaders Nam Dinh, with fewer matches played. Coach Nguyen Duc Thang’s side now has the potential to leapfrog the top spot if they continue their strong performances.
This match showcased Viettel’s willingness to push forward aggressively and maintain constant pressure on their opponents—a strategy that not only helped them secure the win but also sent a clear message to the rest of the league. For young readers: “constant pressure” means never giving up and always trying hard to score, even when the other team is trying to stop you.
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