Gia Lai, 23 May, 2025 – Midfielder Tran Minh Vuong scored a brace to help Hoang Anh Gia Lai (HAGL) draw 2-2 with Da Nang in Round 24 of the 2024-2025 V.League on the afternoon of May 22.
Although both teams wanted foreign referees for the match, the organizers assigned a Vietnamese referee team, with Tran Dinh Thinh from Dong Nai as the match referee and Nguyen Manh Hai as the VAR referee. The match did not feature many controversial moments and did not impact the referees’ decisions.
Pleiku Stadium was sparsely attended, but former Vietnam national team coach Park Hang-seo was present in the stands to support both teams. Technical Director Vu Tien Thanh and team leader Nguyen Tan Anh were also in the technical area for HAGL following disciplinary actions.
The Mountain City team needed a win to secure their survival, while Da Nang also required three points to escape the bottom of the table. The visitors started the game better with some dangerous wing attacks, but it wasn’t until the 45th minute that they found a breakthrough. Center-back Luong Duy Cuong joined the attack and delivered a precise cross into the box. Forward Nguyen Minh Quang cut across the HAGL defenders and leapt to head the ball into the far corner, opening the scoring for Da Nang.
Trailing by a goal, HAGL began the second half with a nothing-to-lose approach. Coach Le Quang Trai instructed his players to push high up the field, continuously pressuring their opponents. In the 62nd minute, defender Le Van Son sent a cross into the box, where midfielder Tran Bao Toan laid it back for Tran Minh Vuong to head home and equalize 1-1.
With their spirits lifted after the equalizer, HAGL fell into Da Nang’s counterattack trap. In the 73rd minute, striker Phan Van Long accelerated past HAGL’s center-back pairing of Dung Quang Nho and Jairo, finishing with a precise shot into the far corner to give Da Nang a 2-1 lead.
Van Long, 29, from Quang Nam, and a former Vietnam U19 and U23 national player, scored his second consecutive goal, having previously netted the winner in Da Nang’s 1-0 victory over Quang Nam.
In the remaining minutes, HAGL continued to push forward and equalized in the 80th minute. From a free kick just outside the box, Minh Vuong fired a dangerous shot that curled around the wall and into the top corner. Da Nang goalkeeper Bui Tien Dung stretched fully but couldn’t prevent the goal.
In the final moments, Da Nang had a chance to secure a late winner, but foreign player Emerson missed the opportunity.
With the draw, HAGL now has 28 points and is still not assured of survival. “We are very disappointed that we couldn’t win to secure survival early. But after being behind twice, the entire team fought hard to equalize,” said Minh Vuong after the match. The midfielder is rumored to be leaving HAGL to join Binh Phuoc after the season ends, but he refused to discuss his future, as the team is still battling for survival.
With one point, Da Nang moved out of the bottom position to 13th place with 21 points, one point ahead of Binh Dinh but with two more matches played.
In Round 25, HAGL will travel to Song Lam Nghe An, while Da Nang will face Ha Tinh.
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