Hanoi Police Club just received defeat when facing The Cong Viettel in the 1/8 round of the National Cup. This is the second consecutive loss of the team led by coach Kiatisak against this opponent. The police football team lost 2-0 in the V.League last weekend.
In this match, coach Nguyen Duc Thang left Nguyen Hoang Duc in the reserve position. Meanwhile, coach Kiatisak still launches the strongest squad. Hanoi Police Club took the initiative after the opening whistle. However, it is not easy for them to cause difficulties for their opponents because The Cong Viettel keeps the team at a good distance and plays deep.
The Cong Viettel created a dangerous opportunity first. In the 19th minute, Pedro counterattacked with the ball before passing it to Adriano. However, number 27 finished too lightly and did not make it difficult for goalkeeper Nguyen Filip.
Hanoi Police Club faced many difficulties before The Cong Viettel.
The match became more balanced when The Cong Viettel pushed the team higher. In the 40th minute, Truong Tien Anh shot a strong shot that sent goalkeeper Nguyen Filip flying as far as he could to block it. The first half ended with a 0-0 draw.
In the second half, coach Nguyen Duc Thang sent Nguyen Hoang Duc onto the field. The presence of player number 28 helps The Cong Viettel's playing style be more flexible. However, the team continued to play carefully to ensure the safety of goalkeeper Quang The Tai's goal.
Meanwhile, the Hanoi Police Club was stuck due to the opponent's tight playing style. Skillful players like Nguyen Quang Hai, Ho Tan Tai, Geovane could not find a way to break through The Cong Viettel's defense.
In the 61st minute, The Cong Viettel took advantage of a counterattack to score. Tran Danh Trung passed the ball smoothly to Pedro before the striker passed Nguyen Filip and put the ball into the empty net.
Coach Kiatisak constantly makes changes. However, the police football team is still at a deadlock. The Cong Viettel has the advantage, so it's easier to deploy the stance they want. In injury time, coach Nguyen Duc Thang's team almost scored a second goal if Danh Trung's shot was more accurate.
The match ended with a 1-0 victory for The Cong Viettel. They won the quarterfinals of the 2023 - 2024 National Cup.
