The victory lifted the mountain town club five points clear of 13th-placed Becamex TP. Ho Chi Minh, ensuring they can no longer be caught before the end of the campaign.
Facing a Hanoi side sitting third in the standings and arriving in strong form after winning six of their previous seven matches, Hoang Anh Gia Lai adopted a cautious approach from the outset. Head coach Le Quang Trai fielded his strongest available lineup, while Technical Director Vu Tien Thanh returned to the bench after a spell on assignment in Ninh Binh.
The hosts focused on defensive organization, dropping deep and limiting space for the visitors. Even striker Batista frequently retreated into his own half as Hoang Anh Gia Lai sought to frustrate Hanoi’s attacking play.
Despite the disciplined setup, Hanoi created several openings. Daniel missed a clear opportunity in the 11th minute when he fired over the crossbar after breaking through on goal. The visitors eventually found the breakthrough in the 41st minute when Do Hoang Hen finished clinically from an angle after being set up by Daniel.
Hoang Anh Gia Lai struggled to threaten before the interval, managing only one shot on target through Batista from outside the penalty area. Hanoi nearly doubled their lead in first-half stoppage time, but Hoang Hen’s close-range effort drifted narrowly wide.
Needing a result to strengthen their survival hopes, the home side made attacking changes after the break, introducing Gia Bao and Conceicao in place of Thanh Son and Batista.
The substitutions delivered an immediate impact. In the 59th minute, Gia Bao surged down the right flank and sent a dangerous low cross into the box. Hanoi defender Thanh Chung, attempting to clear the ball, inadvertently turned it into his own net to level the score at 1-1.
The equalizer transformed the atmosphere inside Pleiku Stadium and energized the home side. Hoang Anh Gia Lai began pushing forward with greater confidence and intensity, creating sustained pressure on Hanoi’s defense.
Their momentum was rewarded in the 80th minute when 18-year-old forward Gia Bao produced a moment of individual brilliance, dribbling past defenders before placing a composed finish into the far corner to put the hosts ahead.
Hanoi launched a late offensive in search of an equalizer, but goalkeeper Trung Kien produced a series of important saves to preserve his side’s advantage.
In the first minute of stoppage time, Conceicao capped the comeback by breaking clear and firing home to seal a 3-1 victory.
The result completed one of Hoang Anh Gia Lai’s most significant wins of the season, securing their top-flight status with a round to spare and ending any remaining relegation concerns.
