Hanoi Club: Striving to find the first victory

Welcoming Thanh Hoa Club in round 5 taking place at Hang Day Stadium at 7:15 p.m. on September 26 (FPT Play live coverage) is an opportunity for Hanoi Club to find its first victory in V-League 2025-2026.

Strengthen the defense

Hanoi FC is temporarily ranked 11th with 2 points after 4 rounds of V-League 2025-2026. In both matches played at Hang Day Stadium, Hanoi FC was divided points by the opponent. This is the worst start for the capital team in nearly a decade.

Hanoi FC's rapid decline in form stems from tactical errors. In particular, their disjointed defense, revealing numerous weaknesses, is the reason why Hanoi FC has conceded the most goals, with 7 goals against in 4 rounds.

Statistics from the beginning of the season show that Hanoi FC's starting lineup has an average age of 28.5. The frequent use of many "veteran" players has affected the tactical effectiveness of Adachi Yusuke's team.

Nỗ lực tìm chiến thắng đầu tiên- Ảnh 1. — Hanoi Club (right) is trying to find its first win. Photo: VPF

Van Quyet and Hung Dung are getting old and can only complete their tasks in the first 50 minutes of the match. This midfielder duo is experienced but does not have enough strength and speed to compete with the young players throughout the 90 minutes of play on the field.

The midfield cannot support the long-range interception, which leads to the defense having to push up to limit the space in front of the goal. This will reduce the ability to cover the defense and lead to goals from "air combat" or central wall passes.

Through 5 matches this season, Hanoi FC has conceded 5 goals in the second half. This is the time when veterans lose their physical strength and reduce their performance.

In Round 5 of the V-League 2025-2026, Hanoi FC's defense will be without their "iron" center-back Nguyen Thanh Chung, who has accumulated three yellow cards and is suspended. Thanh Chung is a crucial piece in Hanoi FC's 4-1-4-1 formation, not only effective defensively but also capable of creating breakthroughs and scoring goals when participating in attacking plays.

Pham Tuan Hai needs to "clear his throat".

As the main striker in the attack of Hanoi FC, persistent injuries before the tournament caused Pham Tuan Hai's performance to decline. He "failed to score" in the first 4 matches of the season, indirectly causing the home team to be eliminated from the National Cup early.

In the rematch with Viettel The Cong Club, the player born in 1998 scored his first goal of the new season, helping Hanoi Club open the score. The ability to run into space, accelerate quickly and finish delicately were the keys to help Tuan Hai create a "super product" against goalkeeper Nguyen Van Viet.

However, Tuan Hai's ball control and goal-scoring ability are still limited. Statistics show that he had at least 4 one-on-one situations with goalkeeper Van Viet but only scored 1 goal. If he had capitalized on those good opportunities, Tuan Hai and the Hanoi FC strikers could have secured their first win of the season.

Facing Thanh Hoa FC in the current circumstances presents an opportunity for Tuan Hai to increase his goal tally, thereby helping his team escape the bottom of the league table. Last season, this striker scored a brace against Thanh Hoa FC. Furthermore, throughout 15 years in official competitions, Hanoi FC has never lost to Thanh Hoa FC at Hang Day Stadium, including 14 wins and 3 draws.

At present, the Thanh Hoa team has many changes at the top level, affecting the fighting spirit of the players and the coaching staff. Coach Choi Won-kwon and his team also have 2 points but are second to last in the rankings because they are behind Hanoi FC in terms of secondary index.

After 4 rounds, Thanh Hoa FC is one of the 3 teams that have conceded the most goals in V-League, with 8 goals conceded. Thanh Hoa FC’s poor start has also made them considered a candidate for relegation at the end of the season.