VAR takes a sharp turn, Quang Kiet saves HAGL to draw 1-1 with Thanh Hoa.

In the 90+10th minute at Pleiku Stadium, from a free kick taken by Marciel, Quang Kiet coolly finished to secure a 1-1 draw for Hoang Anh Gia Lai against Dong A Thanh Hoa. Prior to that, VAR technology intervened twice, disallowing goals for both sides, pushing the match of Round 11 of the V-League 2025/2026 to a breathtaking climax.

The 90+10 goal and the VAR intervention.

Thanh Hoa opened the scoring in the 44th minute when center-back Mbodji rose high to head home a powerful header from a corner kick. HAGL then launched a full-scale attack in the second half and nearly equalized when Gia Bao tapped the ball into the net in the 73rd minute. However, after consulting VAR, the referee decided to disallow the goal in the 76th minute, determining that a HAGL player had fouled goalkeeper Xuan Hoang earlier.

In the 90+7th minute, Thanh Hoa's hopes were dashed when Rimario was flagged offside just before he could put the ball into the net. And as injury time drew to a close, Quang Kiet appeared at the right moment in the 90+10th minute, seizing the opportunity after a tricky free kick from Marciel to equalize the score 1-1 amidst the cheers of the Pleiku crowd.

Main developments

The match heated up very early on: in the 4th minute, HAGL put the ball into the net but it was disallowed due to offside. After that, the game was evenly contested, with opportunities evenly distributed. The turning point of the first half came from a set piece that gave Thanh Hoa the lead before halftime.

In the second half, HAGL pushed their formation higher, creating constant pressure, but faced fierce resistance and Thanh Hoa's excellent ability to slow down the pace of the game. Decisions from VAR created a dramatic twist and turn: an equalizer was disallowed, an opponent was ruled offside, before Quang Kiet's late goal sealed the outcome.

Tactical analysis: tempo and set pieces are decisive.

Both valid goals of the match came from set pieces: a corner kick (Mbodji 44') and a free kick (Quang Kiệt 90+10'). This reflects the tactical approach: while Thanh Hóa proactively slowed down the pace and preserved their advantage, HAGL had to seek breakthroughs from set pieces towards the end of the match.

Thanh Hoa showed their ability to handle crucial moments in the first half and disrupt HAGL's attacking rhythm after the break. Conversely, HAGL maintained the necessary attacking intensity to bring the game back to a tie, and were ultimately rewarded with a precise moment from Quang Kiet.

VAR intervenes repeatedly, changing the course of the match.

This match was shaped by crucial VAR decisions. In the 73rd minute, Gia Bảo put the ball into the net, but it was disallowed in the 76th minute due to a foul on goalkeeper Xuân Hoàng. Then, in the 90+7th minute, Rimario was ruled offside before Thanh Hóa successfully converted the penalty. In the final twelve minutes of added time, these two decisions created a nail-biting period before Quang Kiệt sealed the victory with a valuable equalizer.

Featured timeline

Impact on rankings

Final score: HAGL 1-1 Thanh Hoa. After this draw, the relegation battle in the V-League 2025/2026 remains dramatic, with both teams very close to the relegation zone. Both clubs have 8 points, but Thanh Hoa is currently ranked 10th, while Hoang Anh Gia Lai is 12th.

Goal scorer

• Thanh Hoa: Mbodji (44')
• HAGL: Quang Kiệt (90+10')

CTVX