Hai Phong FC is in Group H with Hougang United (Singapore), Sabah FC (Malaysia) and Central Cost Mariners (Australia). This is considered a group that is suitable for coach Chu Dinh Nghiem and his team. Hougang United is not too strong, with a similar force to Hai Phong FC. Sabah FC and Central Cost Mariners are opponents that the Vietnamese representative is capable of winning against.
Group G is considered the "death group" of Southeast Asia in the Asian Cup C2. Terengganu FC (Malaysia), Bali United (Indonesia) are two "familiar" teams in continental tournaments for many years. Meanwhile, Stallion Laguna and PSM Makassar are both considered the top teams in their seeded groups.
ASEAN regional draw results.
Group A sees Dynamic Herb Cebu FC (Philippines) and McArthur FC (Australia) have a greater chance of advancing than Shan United (Myanmar) and Phnom Penh Crown FC (Cambodia).
According to the format of the 2023/2024 AFC Cup, 12 teams in the ASEAN region are divided into 3 groups of 4 teams each. The top 3 teams after the group stage and the second-placed team with the best record will advance to the regional semi-finals.
The ASEAN champions will advance to the inter-zone semi-finals, which will feature clubs from South, Central and East Asia. The inter-zone champions will face the Western champions in the AFC Cup final on 5 May 2024.
Hai Phong FC left many regrets in the 2023/2022 Asian Cup qualifying round. They convincingly defeated Rangers FC (Hong Kong) 4-1 away from home. During the trip to Korea, Hai Phong FC continued to take the lead against host Incheon United. The match had to go into extra time when the two teams tied 1-1 after 90 minutes of official play. Hai Phong FC lost 1-3 overall.
Coach Chu Dinh Nghiem has experience leading Hanoi FC in the 2019 C2 Asian Cup. The capital team only lost to April 25 FC (North Korea) in the East Asia - Southeast Asia inter-zone semi-final. This is the highest achievement in the history of a Vietnamese team participating in the C2 Asian Cup.
Mai Phuong
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