Hanoi, April 30, 2025 – Hanoi Police FC staged a commanding 2-0 victory over Indonesia’s PSM Makassar in the second-leg semifinal of the 2024-2025 ASEAN Club Championship on April 30 at Hang Day Stadium, securing a 2-1 aggregate triumph to advance to the final. Fueled by Nguyen Quang Hai’s brilliance and Mano Polking’s tactics, the win, on Vietnam’s Reunification Day, electrified nearly 15,000 fans.
Trailing 1-0 from the April 2 first leg, Hanoi Police FC, buoyed by free tickets and a postponed V-League Round 20 match against Binh Dinh FC, enjoyed superior fitness. PSM Makassar, fatigued from an April 25 match and long travel, struggled. Hanoi Police FC dominated early, controlling 88% possession in the first 25 minutes and firing eight shots, three on target, per VFF stats. Their fluid wing play, led by Quang Hai, dismantled PSM’s counters from Victor Dethan and Nermin Haljeta, echoing The Cong Viettel’s precision.
Alan Grafite tested PSM’s Arya Pratama in the 5th minute, while Le Pham Thanh Long’s chip set up Phan Van Duc’s header, only for Cao Pendant Quang Vinh to head over. In the 19th minute, Quang Hai’s unmarked left-footed volley from Le Van Do’s corner was parried, with Vitao fluffing the rebound. Rain from the 30th minute slowed Hanoi Police FC, but Quang Hai’s flair, reminiscent of Hoang Anh Gia Lai’s Nguyen Cong Phuong, kept PSM pinned back.
The breakthrough came in the 56th minute. Quang Hai’s right-wing corner grazed Bui Hoang Viet Anh’s head, allowing Hugo Gomes to volley past Arya despite tight marking, igniting Hang Day’s 14,800 fans, per match reports. Four minutes later, another Quang Hai corner sparked chaos. Quang Vinh’s looped cross found Viet Anh, who controlled and curled a left-footed shot for 2-0. PSM’s offside protests were dismissed after VAR, with referee Kim Dae-yong validating the goal.
Hanoi Police FC shifted to a defensive stance, surviving a scare when Nguyen Filip tipped Abdul Rahman’s 71st-minute header over. PSM’s five substitutions and set-pieces, led by Yuran Fernandes, fizzled. Late scuffles saw Polking carded in stoppage time, but his animated touchline presence, akin to Song Lam Nghe An’s coaches, drove the team. Hanoi Police FC advances to face the Buriram United-BG Pathum United winner (Buriram leads 3-1) in the two-leg final on May 14 (Hang Day) and May 21 (away).
With Quang Hai’s five assists this tournament and Filip’s four clean sheets, Hanoi Police FC, bolstered by Ho Chi Minh City FC-like fan support, eyes a historic title, potentially against Thailand’s giants, cementing Vietnam’s 2024 AFF Cup legacy.
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