HAGL – TP HCM: Decisive battle for top 8

HAGL needs three points at home against second-to-last placed Ho Chi Minh City to keep their hopes of entering the top eight teams after the first phase of V-League 2023 alive.

The two current top teams, Hanoi Police and Thanh Hoa, have secured their places in the top 8, while the bottom teams, Binh Duong , Ho Chi Minh City and Da Nang, have no chance.

The remaining six spots are a competition between nine teams, with the advantage leaning more towards Hanoi FC, who are in third place with 19 points. HAGL is currently in ninth place with 13 points, two points behind the team above, Binh Dinh, who are also the opponents in the final round of the first phase. Coach Kiatisuk and his team therefore aim to win all three points when facing Ho Chi Minh City, before entering the decisive match.

HAGL is currently ranked ninth on the current V-League 2023 rankings. Photo: Lam Thoa

HAGL has the home field advantage, where they have not lost a match this season. The chance of winning against TP HCM is high in the context of the opponent's unstable performance and monotonous playing style. Coach Vu Tien Thanh's team depends entirely on the firepower of Hoang Vu Samson as well as two foreign players Daniel Green and Victor Mansaray, while the defense is among the worst in the league with 26 goals conceded after 11 rounds.

Ho Chi Minh City FC put out the fire by recruiting midfielder Brendon Lucas to replace Jonathan Campbell who did not meet expectations. With no chance of entering the top 8, Ho Chi Minh City FC still needs to accumulate points before entering the relegation race. Therefore, a point at Pleiku Stadium can be considered a success for them.

Hanoi FC has the important return of midfielder Do Hung Dung (center). Photo: Hieu Luong

Also taking place at 5pm today, at 19/8 Nha Trang Stadium, the home team Khanh Hoa will host Hanoi FC . Coach Vo Dinh Tan and his team will face a big challenge when the away team has the return of a series of key players after injuries such as Marcao, Do Hung Dung, Nguyen Thanh Chung. Hanoi will also introduce new player Henrique Caio, after saying goodbye to both foreign strikers Lucao do Break and William Henrique.

Three points is the goal of Hanoi FC to continue chasing CAHN and Thanh Hoa in the championship race. For Khanh Hoa, defending and waiting for opportunities is the way to find points.

At Vinh Stadium, SLNA will face Binh Dinh at 6pm . The away team has gone four games without a win, while SLNA has just won its first match under coach Phan Nhu Thuat. Spirit and home field advantage can help SLNA win two consecutive matches for the first time this season, to surpass its opponent on the rankings.

The latest match takes place at Hang Day Stadium at 7:15 pm between Viettel – a team with inconsistent form and Binh Duong – who have not known a win this season . The advantage is on Viettel’s side to have a secure position in the top 8, but the rain for the past two days in Hanoi makes the outcome of the match more unpredictable.

Hieu Luong

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