Hanoi, April 29, 2025 – Nguyen Quang Hai and coach Mano Polking expressed unwavering determination to lead Hanoi Police FC to victory over Indonesia’s PSM Makassar in the second leg of the 2024-2025 ASEAN Club Championship semifinals on April 30 at Hang Day Stadium. Trailing 1-0 from the first leg, the V-League champions aim to overturn the deficit and reach the final, eyeing a second Southeast Asian title in 2025 after Vietnam’s 2024 AFF Cup triumph.
Quang Hai, pivotal in that AFF Cup win alongside Hanoi Police FC teammates Nguyen Filip, Le Pham Thanh Long, Vu Van Thanh, and Bui Hoang Viet Anh, spoke at a press conference on April 29. “We’ve had an intense training week with one goal: to win,” he said. “April 30 is special for Vietnam—Reunification Day. We want not just victory but a thrilling, dedicated performance for our fans.” Polking, aware of the holiday’s significance, hopes a sold-out 20,000-capacity Hang Day, rivaling The Cong Viettel’s fanbase, will inspire his squad.
Hanoi Police FC face a steep challenge, needing a two-goal margin to advance directly or a one-goal edge for extra time, after Yuran Fernandes’ 80th-minute header secured PSM Makassar’s 1-0 first-leg win on April 2. Despite dominating possession (64%) and outshooting PSM 17-8, Hanoi Police FC rued Alan Grafite’s missed penalty and a defensive lapse, per VFF reports. Their recent form—three wins, five draws, two losses in 10 matches—shows resilience, but Polking pinpointed squandered chances as a concern.
Injuries rule out Vu Van Thanh, Leonardo Artur, and Nguyen Dinh Bac, but Alan Grafite and Le Van Do, recovered from knocks sustained against Hoang Anh Gia Lai and Ho Chi Minh City FC, are fit. Hanoi Police FC postponed their Round 20 V-League clash with Binh Dinh FC to June 3, granting an eight-day break to refine tactics, akin to Song Lam Nghe An’s strategic camps. Polking expects PSM Makassar to lean on counterattacks and set-pieces, led by Nermin Haljeta (four Shopee Cup goals), but stressed, “We’ll control the game, create chances, and stay composed to score.”
Concerns over Hang Day’s pitch, shared with The Cong Viettel amid My Dinh’s April 30 events, were dismissed. “The surface is excellent, just needs a slight trim for our passing game,” Polking noted. With Quang Hai’s playmaking, mirroring Nam Dinh FC’s Nguyen Xuan Son, and Filip’s goalkeeping, Hanoi Police FC aim to emulate Thanh Hoa FC’s 2023 National Cup run. A win would pit them against Buriram United or BG Pathum United, setting up a historic final on May 14, fueled by Ho Chi Minh City FC-like fan fervor.
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