Tue, 30 Nov, -0001
Hanoi: AFC Cup 2014 quarter-finalists Hanoi T&T lost their pole position in the Vietnam top flight as they were held to 3-3 draw by second-from-bottom Long An in a roller-coaster match at Hang Day Staidum on Sunday.
Hanoi were reduced to second spot in the table and surrendered the top position on goal difference to Binh Duong who in an earlier match downed Hoang Anh Gia Lai 4-1.
It was a match that went by the book at first for Hanoi as they led the proceedings with healthy two goals in the first half thanks to a double by Argentine striker Gonzalo Damian Marronkle on 16 and 39 minutes.
But came the second half, it was a different story altogether as Long An turned the tide against the hosts with defender Tran Chi Cong bringing it one down on 66 minutes, a herald of more damages to come.
It was Nigerian attacker Ganiyu Bolaji Oseni this time to find the back of Hanoi’s net on 80 minutes to level the scoreline at 2-2 but not content with that, Long An’s new signing again scored six minutes later to complete his brace and take over the lead.
Shocked by the come-from-behind show by the bottom-two side, it was Nguyen Van Quyet who spared Hanoi’s blushes by scoring the levelling goal one minute into stoppage time to force sharing of spoils.
Hanoi are actually sitting level with Binh Duong in terms on points (39 points) so the surrendering of pole position may be a temporary setback for the AFC Cup contenders as they have only played 17 matches, one less than Binh Duong.
Phan Thanh Hung-led Hanoi will begin their AFC Cup quarter-final campaign against Arbil of Iraq on August 19 at home before meeting them again in the second leg a week later.