Krishna Sadhana
Football Tribe SEA Editor
Hanoi FC have proven themselves to be Vietnam’s champions of champions once again after edging Ho Chi Minh City FC 2-1 at the Thong Nhat Stadium in Ho Chi Minh City yesterday. The men in purple kicked-off their season with more silverware to their growing trophy cabinet, lifting the 2020 edition of the Vietnamese Super Cup and successfully defending the title that they’ve won in 2019.
Playing at a sparsely-filled Thong Nhat (with both Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City only being allocated 40 tickets each for their fans due to the ongoing COVID-19 outbreak), it was the hosts Ho Chi Minh City who initially assumed control of the tie. Having played two competitive games so far in the AFC Cup, the 2019 V.League 1 runners-up looked sharp and dangerous, and it was them who opened the scoreline in the 18th minute. Nguyen Cong Phuong continued his rich vein in form that saw him score against both Yangon United of Myanmar and Hougang United of Singapore in the AFC Cup to score his third goal for the club in three games, slotting in a shot that went beyond the reaches of Hanoi goalie Nguyen Van Cong.
However, stung by the opening goal, Hanoi sprung into life immediately and went in for the counter. It paid off in the 30th minute after Ho Chi Minh City’s Nguyen Cong Thanh inadvertently pushed Hanoi’s Do Hung Dung’s shot into his own net. The capital side then turned the tie around to their favor at the stroke of half-time, when Ho Chi Minh City goalkeeper Bui Tien Dung failed to clear away a Hanoi shot as far away as he could, allowing Pape Omar Faye to smash in the rebound into the net.
The second half saw the two teams carving out a number of chances, however, Hanoi held on for the slender victory and with it, the 2020 Vietnamese Super Cup title. Along with their 2019 and 2011 titles, Hanoi have now collected three Vietnamese Super Cup titles to their name, rising above Hoang Anh Gia Lai who have won two titles. 2019 Vietnamese Super Cup runners-up Becamex Binh Duong remain the most successful team of the competition with four titles, alongside Song Lam Nghe An who have won four editions of the competition as well.
The 2020 V.League 1 season will kick-off on March 6th behind closed doors due to the COVID-19 outbreak, with Ho Chi Minh City traveling to Tam Ky to take on Quang Nam FC at the Tam Ky Stadium, while Hanoi begin their league title defense at home against fellow Northern Vietnam side Duoc Nam Ha Nam Dinh at the Hang Day Stadium.