Coach Popov went through 3 consecutive matches without a win with The Cong - Viettel

Lucao do Break scored a double to help Hai Phong hold a 2-2 draw against The Cong - Viettel - Photo: HAI PHONG CLUB

With no more goals in the V-League, The Cong - Viettel Club and Hai Phong still brought an eye-catching match with 4 goals scored. After a tense first half, the two teams brought an explosive second half.

In the 47th minute, Wesley Nata opened the scoring, putting The Cong - Viettel ahead after receiving a low cross from his teammate on the left wing. Nata's shot was difficult, leaving Hai Phong goalkeeper Nguyen Dinh Trieu unable to block it.

While Hai Phong had not yet recovered from the loss, in the 55th minute, The Cong - Viettel took advantage of the excitement and seized the opportunity to score the second goal. U22 Vietnam defender Nguyen Nhat Minh of Hai Phong recovered the ball in the penalty area but did not clear it, creating an opportunity for Pedro Henrique of The Cong - Viettel to sneak in and shoot dangerously, raising the score to 2-0.

The drama started from here. After conceding 2 goals, Hai Phong FC suddenly rose up and scored 2 goals in just 3 minutes. Both goals were extremely difficult for The Cong - Viettel.

In the 61st minute, Nguyen Huu Son's (Hai Phong) long-range shot caused goalkeeper Pham Van Phong (The Cong - Viettel) to vomit the ball right into Lucao do Break's rebound.

After narrowing the score to 1-2, the foreign player of the port city team continued to play the role of hero with an extremely difficult header, equalizing 2-2 for Hai Phong in the 63rd minute.

In the remaining minutes, The Cong - Viettel had a few more chances to end the match but unfortunately missed them all. Especially in the 90+5 minute, when young striker Nguyen Dang Duong could not defeat goalkeeper Dinh Trieu in a one-on-one situation.

Drawing 2-2 despite leading the opponent twice, The Cong - Viettel can only blame themselves. This is the third consecutive match without a win for the army team under the leadership of coach Velizar Popov. In the last 2 rounds, the Bulgarian strategist and his students drew 2-2 with Binh Dinh and lost 1-2 to Hoang Anh Gia Lai .

The Cong - Viettel still has no change in the V-League rankings, standing third with 38 points, 10 points behind Nam Dinh and 5 points behind Hanoi respectively. Coach Popov and his students are focusing more on the opportunity to win the National Cup championship.

Center back Nguyen Duc Chien shared: "Coach Popov is a big difference. When he arrived, we were motivated a lot, but there was not enough time to change our playing style. Our goal for the rest of the season is the National Cup."

Center back Nguyen Duc Chien has just been called back to the Vietnam national team by coach Kim Sang Sik after a long absence.

Being named in the squad for the match against Malaysia in June is a great joy for this player personally. Duc Chien shared: "Whenever the Fatherland needs me, I am willing to serve. This time I will continue to make efforts to reaffirm myself in the eyes of the team's coaching staff."

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THANG NGUYEN

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/hlv-popov-trai-qua-3-tran-lien-tiep-khong-thang-voi-the-cong-viettel-20250523213113615.htm