The team, owned by businessman Đoàn Nguyên Đức, had been bottom of the table with only three points from six games, scoring just once and conceding eight. Under pressure after weeks of poor performances and fan frustration, head coach Lê Quang Trãi made tactical adjustments that paid off spectacularly.
The team, owned by businessman Đoàn Nguyên Đức, had been bottom of the table with only three points from six games, scoring just once and conceding eight. Under pressure after weeks of poor performances and fan frustration, head coach Lê Quang Trãi made tactical adjustments that paid off spectacularly.
The team, owned by businessman Đoàn Nguyên Đức, had been bottom of the table with only three points from six games, scoring just once and conceding eight.
Under pressure after weeks of poor performances and fan frustration, head coach Lê Quang Trãi made tactical adjustments that paid off spectacularly.
Facing the second-placed, military-backed Thể Công-Viettel, favorites led by coach Popov, HAGL entered the match as clear underdogs. Yet, buoyed by home advantage and tactical discipline, they defied expectations.
In the 24th minute, Vĩnh Nguyên’s pinpoint free kick found Jairo, who rose above the defense to head home the opener, putting HAGL 1–0 ahead. From then, the hosts focused on compact defense, neutralizing Viettel’s attacking threats, which had produced 12 goals earlier in the season.
Coach Trãi’s decision to bring on striker Ryan Ha for midfielder Minh Tâm proved decisive. In the 61st minute, the substitute broke away on a counterattack and rifled a shot into the roof of the net to double the lead, sending the Pleiku crowd into celebration.
Thể Công-Viettel thought they had pulled one back in the 77th minute, but the goal was ruled out for offside after a VAR review. Only deep into stoppage time did Lucao finally score from a superb free kick, reducing the deficit to 2–1.
Despite late pressure, HAGL held firm to seal a morale-boosting win worth around $1,200 (30 million VND) in match bonuses, ending their six-game winless streak and reigniting hopes of revival.