Beijing, 18 September, 2025 – Hanoi Police FC made a resilient start to their AFC Champions League Two 2025/26 campaign, holding Chinese giants Beijing Guoan to a 2-2 draw at the Gongren Stadium on September 17.
Unlike Nam Dinh, who fielded a full lineup of foreign players in their victory over Ratchaburi the previous night, coach Alexandre Polking of Hanoi Police FC opted for balance, using only four imports alongside a core of domestic stars such as Nguyen Filip, Bui Hoang Viet Anh, Le Pham Thanh Long, Nguyen Dinh Bac, and Le Van Do. Naturalized player Adou Minh also featured prominently. Beijing Guoan, under former Barcelona manager Quique Setien, surprisingly used just one foreigner, relying largely on Chinese internationals including Zhang Xizhe and Zhang Yuning.
The hosts began on the front foot, pinning Hanoi Police FC back with pace and width. Zhang Xizhe nearly broke the deadlock in the 10th minute with a curling effort that drifted inches wide. Yet it was the visitors who struck first. In the 15th minute, a slick passing move involving Dinh Bac and Leo Artur ended with Vitao unleashing a thunderous long-range strike, leaving the Beijing keeper helpless.
Hanoi Police FC continued to threaten on the break. Dinh Bac wasted a glorious chance moments later when his angled shot rolled just past the post. Stefan Mauk and Cao Pendant Quang Vinh also went close, but the Vietnamese side had to settle for a slender 1-0 lead at halftime.
Beijing Guoan equalized shortly after the restart. Liyu Yang’s speculative shot deflected slightly off a defender, and goalkeeper Nguyen Filip misjudged the bounce, allowing the ball to slip through his hands. Worse was to come for the Vietnam international custodian in the 64th minute, when his misplaced pass went straight to Zhang Yuning, who calmly slotted into the empty net to give Beijing a 2-1 lead.
The visitors refused to wilt. Substitute Rogerio Alves made an immediate impact, threading a perfect ball to Leo Artur, only for the Brazilian to smash his shot against the post. Persistence finally paid off in the 74th minute, when Alves pounced amid a scramble in the penalty box to tuck home the equalizer.
The closing stages were tense, with play halted briefly after crowd disturbances. Despite 12 minutes of stoppage time and several half-chances, neither side could find a winner.
The 2-2 draw leaves Hanoi Police FC second in Group E behind Hong Kong’s Tai Po, who defeated Australia’s Macarthur 2-1 in the other opening fixture. Polking’s men will next host Tai Po at Hang Day Stadium on October 2, a match that could prove pivotal in their bid to advance from the group stage.
Hong Phuc
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