Tue, 30 Nov, -0001
Hanoi: A goal from Nguyen Van Quyet saw Hanoi T&T extend their 100% record in this year’s AFC Cup after securing a 1-0 win at home to Malaysia’s Selangor on Wednesday.
Van Quyet’s winner came in the 53rd minute and keeps the Vietnamese side top of Group F after they had defeated Maziya Sports & Recreation and Arema Indonesia in their first two games.
Meanwhile Selangor, who were yet to taste defeat in the AFC Cup after two draws in their opening fixtures, drop to third after Arema defeated Maziya in the day’s later game.
“I am satisfied with the result and also the way that we controlled the game. We had more scoring chances than them, but our players missed most of them,” said Hanoi coach Phan Thanh Hung.
“However, the result could have been a draw if Selangor’s strikers had more luck today. Fortunately we still maintained the scoreline to keep our 100% record in the tournament.”
Hanoi were on top for most of the first half, lining up in an attacking formation with Gonzalo Marronkle, Samson Olaleye and Van Quyet all starting for the home side.
And their first chance game after just three minutes as Olaleye broke the Selangor’s offside trap but sent his shot narrowly wide.
Hanoi continued to dominate the midfield and Olaleye went even closer on the 24th minute as his header crashed off the crossbar with Selangor goalkeeper Farizal Marlias rooted to his line.
After the restart, Hanoi changed their frontline strategy with Van Quet and Olaleye taking up wide positions and stretching the Selangor backline.
And the tactic paid dividends after just nine minutes as the two forwards combined to put the home side in front as an Olaleye cross from the right was met by a thumping volley from Van Quet that flew past Marlias.
The goal kickstarted the visitors into life and Selangor pushed forward in search of an equaliser as Hanoi custodian Nguyen Van Cong was called into action with fine saves from first Modh Raduwan and then shortly after a header by Muhammad Azmi.
However, it was the home side who went closest to netting a second as with nine minutes remaining Olaleye hit the woodwork once again with a header.
“The result is really pity for us. I think that we deserved a draw today. Our players played well despite a very busy schedule in which we’ve played three games just in one week,” said Selangor coach Mehmet Durakovic.
“We had some good chances, but we did not score any goals because Hanoi’s goalkeeper had an excellent game. Hanoi is a really strong team. They played good football with good tactics and good spirit.
“This is just our first defeat, but everything is OK. I still believe in our chance to progress to the next round.”