AFC Champions League Preliminary: Hanoi - Bangkok Club and Ambitions
(Baonghean.vn) - Hanoi FC will begin their conquest of continental ambitions today with a visit to Bangkok United.
Hanoi Club ended the 2018 V.League tournament with 64 points, 18 points ahead of the second-placed Thanh Hoa.
Hanoi's strength comes from the smooth combination of young players in their prime such as Dinh Trong, Duy Manh, Duc Huy, Quang Hai... and the rich experience of seniors such as Van Quyet and Thanh Luong.
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| Will Hanoi Club affirm its ambition in the continental tournament? Photo: Lao Dong Newspaper |
The style of play that Hanoi is building is beautiful and technical. Having won the highest tournament of Vietnamese football four times, it seems that it is time for Mr. Hien to set his ambition on the continental arena. They will enter this conquest with the AFC Champions League preliminary match against Bangkok United.
However, the Vietnamese champions’ opponents are not an easy team to bully. Last season, they finished second overall, behind Buriram United, the team that just signed midfielder Luong Xuan Truong.
Notably, Bangkok United has 4 quality foreign players: Everton, Vawnder, Robson (Brazil) and Mi Ke Havenaar (Japan). Of which, Robson and Mi Ke Havenaar are 2 highly rated strikers of the 2018 Thai-League runner-up.
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| Bangkok United is not an easy opponent, they have always been the top team in Thai-League in recent years. Photo: Thailan Football |
In addition, the Thai capital team has a foreign coach from Brazil, Mr. Alexandre Polking. With this South American coach, Bangkok United has risen from the middle of the Thai-League to the top 3 strongest teams in the past 4 years.
The match between Hanoi FC and Bangkok United attracted attention not necessarily because of curiosity about Hanoi FC’s ambitions. This match also attracted attention because it was a clash between two typical representatives of the two leading football nations in Southeast Asia, Thailand and Vietnam.
The match between Hanoi FC and Bangkok United in the AFC Champions League qualifying round will take place at 7:00 p.m. today (February 12) at Thammasat Stadium.
