CAHN came from behind to beat Beijing Guoan 2-1, advancing to the quarterfinals.
CAHN came from behind to win 2-1 against Beijing Guoan: trailing in the 11th minute, they equalized in the 76th minute and sealed the victory in the 90th minute. Lam Luong Minh admitted the team handled the situation poorly in the decisive moments.
At Hang Day Stadium on the evening of November 27th, CAHN came from behind to beat Beijing Guoan 2-1, officially securing their place in the ACL Two quarterfinals one round early. The visitors opened the scoring in the 11th minute after a mistake by goalkeeper Nguyen Filip, but Stefan Mauk equalized in the 76th minute and Nguyen Dinh Bac sealed the victory in the 90th minute.
The decisive moment in the 90th minute.
The turning point of the match came in the 90th minute. After numerous attacks, CAHN capitalized on their best opportunity: a precise rebound shot from Nguyen Dinh Bac sealed the comeback. Earlier, Stefan Mauk's equalizer in the 76th minute boosted the morale of Beijing Guoan, forcing them to retreat and defend hastily in crucial situations.
Main developments
Beijing Guoan took an early lead in the 11th minute, stemming from a mistake by goalkeeper Nguyen Filip. The game then became a back-and-forth affair with many fierce battles in the midfield. CAHN increased the pressure in the second half and were rewarded in the 76th minute when Stefan Mauk neatly finished to equalize 1-1. In the 90th minute, Dinh Bac appeared at the right moment to score the rebound, securing a 2-1 victory for the home team.
Tactical angle: tempo and precision at the decisive moment.
The match revolved around two factors: intensity and tempo management. According to Nguyen Dinh Bac's post-match comments, CAHN played with "high intensity, completely dominating the opponent." This proactive approach was evident in the second half when the home team pushed a large number of players into the final third of the field, forcing Beijing Guoan to constantly maneuver in tight spaces.
Conversely, Beijing Guoan failed to capitalize on their early advantage and revealed weaknesses in their transitions. They lost possession when they needed to maintain the tempo, and lacked coordination when they needed to accelerate – small details, but enough to shift the game decisively in favor of CAHN in the final stages and lead to two late goals conceded.
Statements after the match
Lam Luong Minh admitted that his team faltered at crucial moments: “In some situations, we didn't handle things well. When we needed to maintain the tempo, we lost the ball. When we needed to accelerate, the whole team lacked coordination. That caused us to lose our advantage and pay the price.” He affirmed that the whole team will still play seriously in the final group stage match: “We must show responsibility and dedication until the very last minute. Every match is important. We will try our best to achieve a better result.”
On the CAHN side, Nguyen Dinh Bac shared: "I think CAHN Club fully deserved this victory. Everyone saw that this was a match where we played with high intensity, completely dominating the opponent. And I think the 3 points are what CAHN Club fully deserved in today's match."
Impact on the overall situation
This defeat "closes the chapter on Beijing Guoan's journey in ACL Two this season." However, according to Lin Liangming, the team remains determined to play responsibly in the final group stage match. For CAHN, the victory officially secures their place in the quarterfinals one round early.
Key details
- Score: CAHN 2-1 Beijing Guoan
- Goals: 0-1 in the 11th minute; 1-1 against Stefan Mauk in the 76th minute; 2-1 against Nguyen Dinh Bac in the 90th minute
- Stadium: Hang Day Stadium, evening of November 27th
- Impact: CAHN secures quarter-final spot one round early; Beijing Guoan concludes its season in ACL Two.
