HAGL shocks on Vietnam's brand new 500 billion VND stadium

Sharing points with The Cong Viettel, Hoang Anh Gia Lai currently tops the Thai Nguyen Four-Team Championship.

The highlight match of the second round The 2025 Thai Nguyen Four-Team Football Tournament The key match between The Cong Viettel and HAGL ended in a 1-1 draw after a tense 90 minutes. This result not only reflects a balanced game but also makes the race for the championship more exciting.

Right from the kickoff, both teams pushed forward aggressively, pressing intensely in midfield to gain ball control. With strong fitness and a fast-paced style, The Cong Viettel started more impressively. Their well-organized wing attacks created several dangerous chances in front of HAGL’s goal.

However, amid a tight contest and missed opportunities, the first half’s turning point came from a set piece. In the 27th minute, from a well-executed corner, striker Tran Danh Trung scored a precise header, putting The Cong Viettel ahead.

After the opening goal, the match tempo increased. Fierce challenges followed, forcing the referee to issue multiple yellow cards to calm the game. In the second half, HAGL’s coaching staff showed tactical initiative by making three substitutions simultaneously, which significantly improved their ball possession and attacking pressure.

HAGL played more cohesively in midfield, continuously exploiting gaps behind The Cong Viettel’s defense. Nevertheless, the soldier team remained solid defensively and generated several dangerous counterattacks, but inaccuracies in the final touches prevented them from extending the lead.

The intensity of the match peaked in the 86th minute, when The Cong Viettel’s goalkeeper made a mistake inside the penalty area, allowing HAGL to be awarded a penalty. From the spot, Brazilian striker Gabriel Conceicao calmly converted the penalty, leveling the score at 1-1 for the mountain town team.

In the final minutes, both teams continued to exchange attacks, but no further goals were scored. The draw between The Cong Viettel and HAGL has made the tournament standings more unpredictable than ever. HAGL leads with 4 points from 2 matches. In a later game, Hanoi FC won 2-1 over PVF-CAND to hold second place on the table.