Ho Chi Minh City Club lost at Thong Nhat Stadium

Ho Chi Minh City Club (left) is helpless against Viktor Le and Hong Linh Ha Tinh Club - Photo: NK

On the evening of April 25, Ho Chi Minh City Club hosted Hong Linh Ha Tinh in round 20 of V-League 2024 - 2025 at Thong Nhat Stadium. Coach Phung Thanh Phuong really wanted to bring Ho Chi Minh City Club to victory to avoid relegation early, and at the same time celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Liberation of the South and National Reunification Day.

But between desire and reality are completely different things. Ho Chi Minh City FC did not create many dangerous opportunities in the first half. The most notable situation of the home team was Quoc Cuong's shot that missed the post in the 36th minute.

In the second half, Hong Linh Ha Tinh Club unexpectedly scored a lucky goal in the 55th minute. On the left wing, Vietnamese-Russian striker Viktor Le crossed the ball into the net without danger, but goalkeeper Manh Cuong was startled and let the ball go into the net.

This was Viktor Le's second goal in the 2024 - 2025 V-League, an impressive performance that not only secured the 22-year-old player a place at the 33rd SEA Games in Thailand later this year, but also allowed him to be called up by coach Kim Sang Sik to the Vietnam national team for the match against Malaysia in the final qualifying round of the 2027 Asian Cup on June 10.

Hong Linh Ha Tinh players hug and congratulate Viktor Le after the goal - Photo: NK

The loss forced Ho Chi Minh City FC to attack more to find an equalizer. But coach Phung Thanh Phuong's strikers were powerless against the well-organized defense of Hong Linh Ha Tinh FC, the hardest team to beat in the V-League having only lost 1 match since the beginning of the season.

Even when they had the chance, the strikers of Ho Chi Minh City Club failed to take advantage of it. For example, in the 64th minute, Joao Pedro, alone in front of the goal, missed the ball after a very good cross from Adriano Schmidt.

In the 77th minute, it was Quoc Cuong's turn to curl the ball with his left foot, sending it high over the goal.

Missing many scoring opportunities, Ho Chi Minh City Club almost conceded a second goal in the 82nd minute after a mistake by the defense.

Stealing the ball from center back Adriano Schmidt, striker Mbo Noel escaped to face Manh Cuong but kicked the ball into the goalkeeper's face and bounced out.

Losing 0-1, Ho Chi Minh City FC returned to the fear of relegation. Meanwhile, Hong Linh Ha Tinh FC temporarily rose to 4th place with 31 points to hope to enter the top 3.

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Source: https://tuoitre.vn/clb-tp-hcm-thua-tren-san-thong-nhat-20250425215727204.htm