Thanh Hoa – Hoang Anh Gia Lai (HAGL) has struggled in recent weeks, failing to win in their last four matches, including three losses, leaving them once again battling to avoid relegation. However, their away match against Thanh Hoa was seen as an opportunity to reclaim momentum.
The hosts had also been on a winless streak since the start of 2025, failing to win any of their 10 matches across all competitions, leading to eliminations from both the National Cup and the ASEAN Club Championship, as well as losing their top spot in the V-League. Coach Velizar Popov consequently resigned, allowing assistant Mai Xuan Hop to take charge.
With both teams struggling for form, the match started cautiously, leading to a lackluster first half. The most notable moment came just before halftime when Doan Ngoc Tan made a dangerous tackle on Phan Du Hoc. The Thanh Hoa captain was shown a yellow card, but HAGL players protested, believing the challenge warranted a red card.
The game opened up after the break. In the 52nd minute, Le Van Thang lofted a long ball over the defense, allowing Lucas Ribamar to break through, outpace the HAGL backline, and fire past goalkeeper Tran Trung Kien to give Thanh Hoa a 1-0 lead. On the sidelines, coach Mai Xuan Hop celebrated intensely, seemingly relieved from pressure.
However, his joy was short-lived. In the 59th minute, HAGL won a free kick, which Tran Minh Vuong delivered into the box. The ball deflected off an HAGL player before falling perfectly for Pham Ly Duc, who unleashed a powerful volley into the net to equalize 1-1. Ly Duc, a 22-year-old center-back, was recently called up by Vietnam head coach Kim Sang-sik for the March national team training camp.
With the score level, Minh Vuong then stepped up himself. In the 67th minute, Bao Toan penetrated the box and laid the ball back, allowing the HAGL captain to finish clinically, turning the game around to 2-1. This goal could mark Minh Vuong’s farewell to HAGL, as speculation suggests he will leave after this match, though the final decision rests with club owner Bau Duc.
After taking the lead, HAGL switched to a defensive approach, absorbing intense pressure from Thanh Hoa. With six minutes of stoppage time added, the game took a dramatic turn in the 94th minute.
Following a high ball into the box, defender Le Van Son failed to jump for the aerial duel and instead extended his leg, committing a foul inside the box. Initially, referee Nguyen Viet Duan did not award a penalty, but VAR intervened, prompting him to review the play and ultimately grant Thanh Hoa a penalty.
From the spot, Ribamar sent goalkeeper Trung Kien the wrong way, slotting the ball into the bottom-right corner to secure a 2-2 draw.
With the draw, Thanh Hoa remains winless but drops to fourth place with 26 points, now five points behind league leaders Nam Dinh. HAGL falls to 11th place with 18 points, sitting just eight points above bottom-placed Da Nang.
Meanwhile, in a simultaneous match at Tam Ky Stadium, Quang Nam defeated Ho Chi Minh City 3-1, climbing to eighth place, while the visitors dropped to ninth with 19 points.
Following Round 16, the V-League will take a break as Vietnam’s senior and U22 national teams enter training camps. The league will resume on April 5.
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