HAGL defeats Ninh Binh 2-1: 'Atletico formula' helps the team from Pleiku transform.
By defeating second-placed Ninh Binh away from home, HAGL made a strong impression with their pragmatic and disciplined defensive style under coach Le Quang Trai.
Hoang Anh Gia Lai (HAGL) pulled off the biggest surprise of V-League Round 13 by winning 2-1 away against second-placed Ninh Binh. This result not only ended the team's poor away run but also demonstrated the effectiveness of their pragmatic defensive style, reminiscent of Atletico Madrid.
Pragmatic style of play: The nemesis of star players.
Instead of their previous beautiful but fragile passing game, HAGL, under the guidance of Technical Director Vu Tien Thanh and Head Coach Le Quang Trai, opted for a more aggressive approach. The visiting team proactively maintained a low defensive line, completely blocking the playing space of Ninh Binh's stars such as Hoang Duc and Geovane Magno.
This tactic proved highly effective as HAGL's defense stifled attacks from the flanks and center. Minh Tâm's opening goal came from a clever interception, while Marciel da Silva sealed the 2-1 victory with a lightning-fast counter-attack involving four orange-shirted players surging forward.
The power of teamwork
After parting ways with many key players from the "golden generation," HAGL now relies entirely on youth and discipline. Players like Trung Kien, Minh Tam, and Quang Kiet are demonstrating a "hard work compensates for lack of intelligence" mindset, readily engaging in high-intensity travel to make up for the experience gap compared to their opponents.
Successfully neutralizing top-class foreign players like Imoh Fred Friday and Gustavo Henrique right in Ninh Binh shows that HAGL has found a new identity. They are no longer a vulnerable team, but have become a unified unit, knowing how to rely on each other to fight when under pressure.
Challenges for the second half of the season
This crucial victory propelled the Pleiku-based team to 8th place in the standings. However, the gap with the relegation zone is still not entirely safe. To maintain their position, HAGL needs to keep the same enthusiasm and composure in their counter-attacking style of play that helped them defeat Ninh Binh.
Overall, HAGL's transformation sends a positive signal to the league, demonstrating the importance of tactics and teamwork in bridging the gap in star players.
