CAHN came from behind to beat Beijing Guoan 2-1, advancing to the knockout round.
Dinh Bac scored the winning goal in the 90+1 minute after an own goal in the 76th minute, securing a 2-1 victory; CAHN reached 8 points, advanced to the knockout round one match early, and eliminated Beijing Guoan. Chinese media called it a 'defensive collapse'.
Hanoi Police FC came from behind to win 2-1 against Beijing Guoan in the fifth matchday of Group E of the AFC Champions League Two at Hang Day Stadium, thus increasing their total points to 8 and officially securing their place in the knockout round one match early. The victory also eliminated the Chinese representative from the tournament.
The climax: Dinh Bac decides the match in the 90+1 minute.
Just when it seemed the game would end in a draw, Nguyen Dinh Bac appeared at the right moment in the 90+1 minute, calmly finishing to secure a 2-1 victory. Prior to that, CAHN had brought the game back to a tie in the 76th minute with an own goal by Stefan Mauk, setting the stage for a dramatic ending.
Match progression: from an early goal conceded to a dominant performance after halftime.
Despite Lin Liangming taking an early lead, CAHN didn't collapse. After a difficult first half, coach Mano Polking's team came back strongly in the second half with a completely dominant performance, creating continuous pressure leading to a turning point in the 76th minute and the decisive blow in the 90+1 minute.
The depth of the game: when Beijing Guoan's system crumbles.
Sina Sports described it as a “complete defensive collapse,” highlighting the “turbulent and chaotic” 60 minutes of the second half for Beijing Guoan. Despite goalkeeper Zhang Jianzhi making seven outstanding saves, the team's tactical system “completely collapsed after the 60th minute.” In that context, the dominant performance that CAHN established after the break became the springboard for their comeback.
Key details
- Score: CAHN 2-1 Beijing Guoan.
- Goals: own goal by Stefan Mauk in the 76th minute; Nguyen Dinh Bac in the 90+1 minute. Beijing Guoan opened the scoring early thanks to Lin Liangming.
- Goalkeeper Zhang Jianzhi made 7 saves.
- CAHN earned 8 points after the 5th matchday of Group E, securing their place in the knockout round one match early.
China's reaction: Widespread disappointment.
Not only Sina Sports, but Sohu also considered this defeat "even more shameful" compared to Beijing Guoan's previous top 4 finish in the Chinese Super League and their FA Cup final appearance. Sports 163 criticized: "Beijing Guoan had dreams of getting through the group stage, but their confusion, lack of composure, and chaotic playing system caused them to throw it all away."
The bleak picture for mainland Chinese football in this competition is further highlighted by the fact that both China Port and Shanghai Shenhua finished last in their respective groups and have virtually no chance of progressing further in the AFC Champions League Two.
Impact: Early ticket and positive signal for Vietnamese football.
This victory not only propelled CAHN into the next round of the AFC Champions League Two but also helped Vietnamese football make another positive mark on the continental stage. With the morale boost from their comeback victory at Hang Day Stadium, the capital's representative entered the knockout round with considerable confidence.
