Five days after their disappointing first-leg defeat, Hanoi Police FC returned to Hang Day Stadium with renewed determination to settle the “debt” owed to Viettel FC. Under the guidance of head coach Mano Polking and following the early whistle from referee Mai Xuan Hung, the home side immediately pressed forward, eager to rewrite their recent misfortune.
In the opening moments of the match, Hanoi Police FC wasted no time in asserting their intent. After just five minutes of play, Le Pham Thanh Long, one of the club’s promising attackers, created a dangerous opportunity by sending the ball narrowly wide of Viettel FC’s goal. His shot, which skimmed the edge of the frame, hinted at the aggressive intent of the home team. This early pressure was designed to unsettle their opponents and signal that they would not allow past setbacks to dictate the course of the game.
At the 13th minute, the breakthrough came. A moment of chaos in the penalty area saw new signing Gama Patrick step up decisively. In a controversial incident, Patrick trampled on the leg of Viettel FC’s Alan Grafite within the penalty box, prompting the referee to award a penalty against the visitors. From a distance of approximately 11 meters, Alan Grafite calmly stepped up and converted the spot-kick, sending the ball past Viettel FC’s goalkeeper Pham Van Phong. This goal gave Hanoi Police FC an early lead and set the tone for the remainder of the first half.
The response from Viettel FC was swift. After conceding the opening goal, the visitors managed to regain their composure and, alongside Hanoi Police FC, engaged in a series of back-and-forth exchanges. At the 19th minute, Khuat Van Khang delivered an impressive long-range strike from outside the penalty area, forcing Viettel FC’s goalkeeper Nguyen Filip into a spectacular save. Despite these efforts, opportunities remained scarce; by the 36th minute, central defender Bui Hoang Viet Anh of Hanoi Police FC missed a one-on-one chance against Pham Van Phong, missing a chance to further extend their advantage.
The match took another dramatic turn in the second half. At the 67th minute, Viettel FC’s Nguyen Duc Chien found himself unable to beat Nguyen Filip in a tight one-on-one situation. Merely eight minutes later, a goal appeared to have been scored by Khuat Van Khang for Hanoi Police FC, but after the referee consulted VAR, the goal was disallowed for offside. This decision, while controversial, underscored the intense scrutiny every play was subjected to.
The real turning point, however, came during the stoppage time of the second half. At 90+5 minutes, Bui Tien Dung delivered a well-placed cross to Pedro Henrique, who converted the penalty to level the score at 1–1 for Viettel FC. Yet, almost immediately after the equalizer, Hanoi Police FC responded with a “golden” moment of their own. Quang Hai sent in a cross with an awkward trajectory that fell in an area difficult to defend. Capitalizing on this lapse, Hugo directed the ball into the far corner, breaking through Viettel FC’s resolve and giving his team a 2–1 lead.
The goal sent the home crowd into raptures as the players of Hanoi Police FC celebrated wildly, their emotions erupting after years of struggle. With this victory, the club temporarily climbed to sixth place with 20 points. Meanwhile, Viettel FC maintained their top-of-the-table position with 25 points. However, coach Nguyen Duc Thang’s side now faces a looming threat: if Nam Dinh manages to secure any points in their upcoming match against Binh Dinh on February 24, Viettel FC’s hold on the summit could be at risk. The unfolding drama in the league promises to intensify as the season enters its critical phase, with every match carrying the weight of potential title challenges and relegation battles alike.
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