Tue, 30 Nov, -0001
Nonthaburi: Thai Premier League runners-up Muangthong United will face Australia’s Melbourne Victory next weekend for place in the group stage of the AFC Champions League after recording a 2-0 win over Vietnam champions Hanoi T&T on Saturday.
Macedonian midfielder Mario Durovski opened the scoring for Muangthong, who made their AFC Champions League debut last season, nine minutes before half-time at Thunderdome Stadium.
And after Australian defender Sam Gallagher was sent-off for Hanoi just before the hour mark, former England international Jay Bothroyd added a second after 62 minutes having provided the assist for Durovski to secure Muangthong’s meeting with Melbourne at Kardinia Park on Saturday.
Hanoi eventually finished the game with nine men after Nigerian striker Samson Olaley was sent-off in stoppage time following a clash with Muangthong substitute Atit Daosawang, who was also dismissed by Korean referee Kim Dong-jin.
“Hanoi did very well early using short passes and moved quickly, but we could see their vulnerability especially with long balls so we adjusted our play and it was effective,” said Muangthong coach Pol Chomchuen, who will be hoping his side can now secure a place in Group G alongside defending champions Guangzhou Evergrande, former winners Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors and Japan’s Yokohama F. Marinos.
“I thank all the players for their efforts as they followed the tactics and the fans saw a fight from the players.”
Having beaten India’s Pune 3-0 last week in the first round, Hanoi received a lucky escape after 16 minutes as Bothroyd was halted by an acrobatic tackle from goalkeeper Nguyen Van Cong just outside the penalty area after capitalising on a mistake from defender Gallagher, but the visiting custodian escaped with only a yellow card.
A flurry of further cautions for both sides disrupted proceedings as the half progressed, but despite Muangthong enjoying the majority of possession, it was Hanoi who went close to a breakthrough 12 minutes before half-time as Olaley flashed an effort just wide of the post.
But just three minutes later Muangthong opened the scoring as Bothroyd did well to head Thitiphan Puangjan’s deep back post cross into the penalty area and Durovski had time to steady himself before dispatching an empathic first-time strike past Hanoi goalkeeper Van Cong.
Muangthong goalkeeper Visanusak Kaewruang, though, had to be on his toes just five minutes after half-time to maintain that lead as the custodian was at full stretch to push Nguyen Ngoc Duy’s placed shot from inside the area around the post.
But Hanoi’s chances of mounting a fightback suffered a blow four minutes before the hour mark as Gallagher received a straight red card after upending Teersail Dangda just outside the area after the striker had raced onto Durovski’s chipped through ball as was bearing down on goal.
And Muangthong doubled their lead six minutes later as Bothroyd drove between two Hanoi defenders on the edge of the area before firing high over Van Cong, with the slightest of touches from the goalkeeper only helping the ball onto the underside of the crossbar.
But despite their numerical disadvantage, Hanoi should have set-up a tense final 12 minutes but having been played in by Nguyen Van Quyet, Olaley hit the crossbar with only Visanusak to beat from 12 yards.
And Hanoi eventually finished the game with nine men after Olaley was sent-off in stoppage time following a clash with Muangthong substitute Atit, who was also dismissed.
“We played well for the entire game, but at the end we could not win,” said Hanoi coach Phan Thanh Hung, who will now see his side take their place in Group F of the AFC Cup alongside Arema Indonesia, Malaysia’s Selangor and Maziya Sports & Recreation from the Maldives.
“In the second half we also only had 10 players so this made it hard to beat Muangthong.”
Photo: WSG