Nguyen Filip had a fantastic game, with saves both during regular time and in the penalty shootout, but he still lost because the opposing goalkeeper was even better - Photo: HANOI POLICE CLUB
After a 2-3 defeat (3-3 draw after 120 minutes) on penalties in the second leg of the final against Buriram Utd on May 21st, Hanoi Police FC (CAHN) had to settle for second place in the ASEAN Club Championship. However, the police team showed commendable resilience in their first appearance at this regional tournament.
A meaningful journey
Not only did CAHN Club carry their hopes of winning the championship into the final match, but they also delivered a high-quality game full of excitement and emotion. The Vietnamese representative only lost to a more experienced and resilient team, on their opponent's home ground.
Buriram United is one of the most traditional and financially powerful clubs in Thai football. Their squad boasts many expensive foreign players and numerous Thai national team members. They are a former opponent of Hanoi Police FC from the group stage.
When the two teams met, not many people believed in the police team's ability to win, even though they were playing at home.
However, taking advantage of Buriram's need to divide their squad across multiple competitions, coupled with sound tactical planning and Coach Polking's understanding of Thai football, CAHN Club secured a 2-1 victory at Hang Day Stadium, proving that a good start leads to a good finish.
In the remaining matches in Group B, except for the dominant 5-0 victory against LC Sailors, CAHN FC faced difficulties and were chased by their opponents. However, Polking's team still secured very convincing victories. They won 5-0 against LC Sailors, 2-1 against Kaya FC, 3-2 against Kuala Lumpur, and 3-2 against Borneo, thus topping Group B.
The Vietnamese representative was also the only team to win all 15 points after 5 matches in the group stage of the 2024-2025 Southeast Asian Championship.
In the semi-finals, CAHN faced PSM Makassar (Indonesia). In the first leg, after numerous missed opportunities by their attacking players, the Vietnamese team lost 0-1. However, this was not the end. CAHN rectified their mistakes when they returned to Hang Day Stadium, winning 2-0 and confidently advancing to the final, where they will face Buriram United again.
The encounter between CAHN FC and Buriram Utd once again highlights the long-standing rivalry between the two leading football nations in the region - Vietnam and Thailand.
Bui Hoang Viet Anh and his teammates learned many lessons after their loss to the top team from Thailand - Photo: Hanoi Police Club
A dramatic and emotional final match.
CAHN took the lead twice in the first leg at Hang Day Stadium on May 14th. However, due to wasted opportunities in attack and the opponent's excellent exploitation of weaknesses, Polking's team had to settle for a disappointing 2-2 draw.
In last night's return match, despite playing away from home, CAHN Club played very resiliently, and at one point came close to winning the championship.
Quang Hai and his teammates took a 2-0 lead at Chang Arena, silencing thousands of Thai fans. Even in the 90+7th minute, the Vietnamese team was still leading 2-1, only to be cruelly pegged back in the final seconds by a controversial referee decision.
Even when trailing 3-2 in extra time, Polking's team fought bravely, leveling the score at 3-3 with a goal from Cao Pendant Quang Vinh, taking the match to a penalty shootout.
Despite the defeat, CAHN Club left its mark with determination, demonstrating the resilience of Vietnamese football – not faltering when playing on Thai soil.
The performance of the police team in all three matches against the Thai representatives clearly demonstrated that Vietnamese football no longer considers Thailand superior as it once did. We have the character to compete fairly and not give up, whether playing at home or away.
Source: https://tuoitre.vn/tiec-nuoi-cho-clb-cong-an-ha-noi-20250522053127263.htm
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