HAGL tied Thanh Hoa 1-1, 90+8 equalizer saved home team Pleiku
Round 11 of V-League witnessed drama in Pleiku: Thanh Hoa took the lead thanks to Mamadou Mbodj's header in the 44th minute, VAR denied Gia Bao's goal in the 73rd minute before Dinh Quang Kiet equalized in 90+8.
In the 90+8 minute at Pleiku Stadium, from a free kick, Dinh Quang Kiet appeared at the right spot, finishing close to the goal to help HAGL hold on to 1 point against Thanh Hoa. The match of round 11 of V-League ended 1-1 after the away team took the lead thanks to Mamadou Mbodj's aerial duel at the end of the first half.
90+8 moment: dead ball saves HAGL
In a deadlocked match, HAGL revived in the final minute of extra time. From a free kick, the ball was hung in a sensitive area and Dinh Quang Kiet seized the opportunity, bringing the match back to balance. This late goal reflected the picture of the 90 minutes: set pieces decided the outcome.
Development: Thanh Hoa took the lead from a set piece
HAGL started well. In the 4th minute, Minh Tam put the ball into the net but the goal was disallowed because Thanh Nhan was offside. Thanh Hoa responded immediately with direct pressure: in the 11th minute, goalkeeper Trung Kien came out without touching the ball, Van Thuan shot but Jairo Rodrigues managed to clear the ball on the goal line. In the 20th minute, Rimario shot powerfully from close range, Trung Kien saved the goal.
Heavy rain on Pleiku field affected the tempo and quality of the game (minute 35). The expected scenario of the away team came in minute 44: from a corner kick taken by Van Thuan, center back Mamadou Mbodj jumped high to head the ball to open the score 1-0 for Thanh Hoa.
VAR, thin lines and mixed emotions
In the second half, Thanh Hoa continued to threaten from dead balls when Mbodj almost completed a double in the 57th minute. The game then slowed down because both teams lacked sharpness in decision-making (minute 65).
The turning point seemed to come for HAGL in the 73rd minute when young player Gia Bao, who had just entered the field, rushed in to finish close to the goal in a chaotic situation. VAR intervened and determined that goalkeeper Trinh Xuan Hoang had been fouled, and the goal was disallowed. That was a signal that HAGL could hurt their opponents from second balls, and they finally did it in the 90+8th minute.
Tactics and tempo: Pleiku rain, high balls and dead balls
The slippery pitch reduced the quality of short combinations and forced both teams to play more directly. Thanh Hoa made better use of the high balls with the set-piece duo of Van Thuan and destination Mbodj. HAGL lacked sharpness in the middle of the pitch, but persistently sought opportunities from dead balls and second balls. Both goals came from set-pieces, reflecting the strategic priorities on a rainy afternoon.
Selected numbers
| Minute | Event |
|---|---|
| 4' | HAGL put the ball into the net but it was not recognized (Thanh Nhan was offside before assisting Minh Tam) |
| 11' | Van Thuan shot, Jairo Rodrigues saved on the goal line after Trung Kien's mistake |
| 20' | Rimario shot close to the goal, Trung Kien blocked |
| 35' | Heavy rain affects the quality of the competition |
| 44' | Mamadou Mbodj headed the opening goal 1-0 for Thanh Hoa from Van Thuan's corner kick. |
| 57' | Mbodj almost increased the score, finishing in the penalty area but not accurately |
| 65' | The game was deadlocked, the quality of the attacks were all low. |
| 73' | VAR denied Gia Bao's equalizer because of a foul on goalkeeper Trinh Xuan Hoang. |
| 90+8' | Dinh Quang Kiet finished after a free kick, equalizing 1-1 for HAGL |
Impact and overall picture
This was a relegation battle between two teams, where every set piece could change the outcome. Thanh Hoa had the better of their set pieces for the most part, but HAGL didn’t give up and were rewarded in the final moments. A point each reflected the game: lots of contact, poor accuracy in handling, and the decisive blows coming from set pieces.
