Hoang Anh Gia Lai - Hanoi Club: Anger makes you lose your mind

The ugly images on and off the field in the first leg of the quarter-final match between HAGL and Hanoi FC in the National Cup have damaged the image of Vietnamese football. Unfortunately, it came from a match between two teams that are most loved by the audience for their dedicated and technical playing style.

Vietnam's "Super Classic"

In recent years, the confrontations between Hanoi and HAGL have been highly anticipated. Simply because they are the confrontations between the two youngest teams in the V-League, consisting of many of the most technically skilled players on the Vietnamese football field.

It is quite strange that they can win 5-0 against HAGL at Hang Day Stadium, but in the past 3 seasons, regardless of the home team's performance, Hanoi FC always returned empty-handed when playing away at Pleiku Stadium. This season, HAGL's home performance is very good. They have not lost a match and are on a streak of 3 consecutive wins.

Coach Chu Dinh Nghiem overreacted on Pleiku field. Photo: Internet

The fact that HAGL wanted to pay off their "debt" at Hang Day Stadium and Hanoi FC wanted to show their strength made the match "hotter" than ever. Even Hoang Vu Olaleye Samson, who was slightly injured, was brought onto the field.

Hanoi's coaching staff wanted to use the "atomic trio" of Vietnam's football field, Hoang Vu Olaleye Samson - Moses Oloya - Oseni, to crush the home team. Coach Chu Dinh Nghiem kept Thanh Luong and Van Dai to plan to unleash their strength in the second half, when HAGL players were exhausted.

It seemed like a 2-1 victory was in hand, but in a dispute with Dinh Trong, Rimario acted strangely to earn a penalty to tie the score at 2-2. When the Hanoi midfielder tackled, he quickly put his foot up to block Dinh Trong from reaching the ball and of course committed a foul in the penalty area.

The fact that striker Rimario has not scored any goals since the beginning of the season has made this foreign player play aggressively and mischievously. Many controversial situations on the field originated from this foreign player, causing Mr. Duc to watch the match and text the HAGL coaching board to replace him immediately.

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Thanh Luong is likely to receive additional punishment after “swearing and using inappropriate language” towards referee Ngo Duy Lan. Photo: Internet

Referee Ngo Duy Lan was right in his decision to award a penalty to Dinh Trong but lacked experience in giving Thanh Luong a yellow card for his fight for the ball with Van Thanh. It seemed that he was frustrated and could not control himself. The two players were fighting for the ball in the air and it was not a situation that could result in a goal, so referees usually do not need to "show off" like that, especially when the match is heated.

When it was the turn of captain Thanh Luong to behave very amateurishly when he “swore and used inappropriate words” towards the main referee, receiving a red card was completely correct. Coach Chu Dinh Nghiem’s subsequent reaction to defend his players and receive a red card only damaged the image of the capital team.

TV viewers were quite disappointed when they saw a member of the Hanoi FC coaching staff throw a water bottle into the audience area. Things got worse when some home fans immediately threw bottles and used extreme words towards the members of the capital team.

It is also unclear why the Pleiku Stadium security force allowed First Class referee Khong Tam Cuong - who was not on duty - to go down to the field, and then almost collided with Coach Chu Dinh Nghiem on the way to the break room after receiving a red card. With these two mistakes, perhaps the Pleiku Stadium Organizing Committee will have to receive a penalty from the National Cup Executive Committee.