Coach Gong Oh-kyun felt comfortable after his debut match with Hanoi Police in the preliminary round of the 2023-2024 National Cup, even though he had to come from behind to defeat HAGL 2-1.
At Hang Day Stadium on the evening of November 25, HAGL took the lead thanks to Chau Ngoc Quang after a good combination in front of the penalty area. However, CAHN still pressed hard and found two goals in the 11th minute from Ho Ngoc Thang and 36th minute from Jefferson Elias.
"This victory was not difficult," coach Gong Oh-kyun said at the press conference after the match at Hang Day Stadium. “The players worked hard and this is the result.”
Coach Gong Oh-kyun in the technical area of CAHN's victory over HAGL in the National Cup on the evening of November 25. Image: Hieu Luong
In this match, coach Gong Oh-kyun surprised everyone by placing striker Nguyen Xuan Nam and right back Ho Tan Tai in central midfield. The Korean coach said he had followed Ho Tan Tai for a long time so he knew this player could come from the sideline to play in the midfield. Young players like La Nguyen Bao Trung, Pham Gia Hung and Ha Van Phuong started from the beginning. Coach Gong said that CAHN's tactics will still change because the players on the national team have only been together for two days.
Before leading CAHN, coach Gong Oh-kyun worked as an assistant for many years at U17, U18, U20 and U23 Korea. In 2020 and 2021, he worked as an assistant for the Indonesian team under coach Shin Tae-yong. After that, he coached U23 Vietnam to the quarterfinals of U23 Asia 2022.
When asked about the difference between leading CAHN and U23 Vietnam, Coach Gong said everything is the same. "Coaches have the same thoughts whether they work for the team or the club," he said. "I am no longer coach of U23 Vietnam, now please call me coach of CAHN."
Goalkeeper Duong Van Loi (yellow shirt) made a mistake leading to CAHN's 1-1 equalizer in the 36th minute. Photo: Hieu Luong
This is CAHN's third consecutive victory this season, previously the team won 3-0 against HAGL and 2-0 against Hanoi FC in the V-League. In the 1/8 round of the National Cup, CAHN will face Viettel.
Meanwhile, HAGL has experienced three consecutive losses. Coach Kiatisuk Senamuang said the team is still confident in the upcoming journey because the V-League has only gone through three rounds. "If we win one or two matches, we will be in a different position," he said.
Hieu Luong
