With the home advantage, the Hanoi Police team started the match better than the Nam Dinh Steel Green Club. The police team played quite freely in attack in the early minutes of the game.

On the other side of the pitch, Nam Dinh Steel Green proactively played a defensive counter-attacking game. With a well-organized style of play, the visiting team created dangerous opportunities from quick counter-attacks. In the 25th minute, Thanh Truong of Nam Dinh took a tricky corner kick that forced Filip Nguyen to make a difficult save. Then, Hong Duy dribbled down the right wing and delivered a cross into the penalty area for De Souza to tap the ball in from close range, narrowly missing the crossbar of the Hanoi Police goal.

Hong Duy (in white shirt) of Nam Dinh Steel had a good game against Hanoi Police. Photo: Viet An

As the first half drew to a close, Nam Dinh Steel pushed forward and created dangerous opportunities, but unfortunately, Thanh Truong's long-range shot from outside the penalty area couldn't beat the talented goalkeeper Filip Nguyen of Hanoi Police.

In the second half, the home team, Hanoi Police, pushed their formation higher, putting pressure on Nam Dinh Steel Green's half of the field. In the 59th minute, from a cross into the penalty area, foreign player Gustavo headed the ball down but goalkeeper Nguyen Manh made an excellent save.

In the 58th minute, Duc Huy of Thep Xanh Nam Dinh received his second yellow card after fouling Cley. With a man advantage, Cong An Hanoi continuously created dangerous situations in front of the visitors' goal, but before the home team could score, they unexpectedly conceded a goal. In the 65th minute, Dinh Son made a determined run with the ball before passing it back to Hendrio, the Brazilian midfielder skillfully finishing to open the scoring for Thep Xanh Nam Dinh.

A fierce ball爭奪 situation between players of both teams. Photo: Viet An

After conceding a goal, the home team, Hanoi Police, immediately made a series of substitutions in an attempt to create a fresh style of play. The substitutions proved effective. In the 78th minute, Quang Hai took a corner kick towards the far post, and Tan Sinh's header created an opportunity for substitute Raphael to head in the equalizer, making it 1-1 for Hanoi Police.

In the following minutes, Hanoi Police continued to control the game, creating numerous scoring opportunities. However, the match ended without any further goals, forcing the two teams to decide the winner through a tense penalty shootout.

In a tense penalty shootout, Nam Dinh Green Steel FC brilliantly won 3-2 against Hanoi Police FC to secure their place in the quarter-finals of the National Cup, where they will face Viettel FC.

* In the earlier match, Hoang Anh Gia Lai FC won 1-0 against Becamex Binh Duong to secure a place in the quarter-finals against PVF-CAND – who had just won 2-0 against Phu Tho FC.

TUAN DIEP