Ho Chi Minh City Club defeated The Cong

HCM City Coach Phung Thanh Phuong had a successful V-League debut when he and HCM City defeated The Cong 2-0 in round 4 of V-League 2023-2024.

After parting ways with coach Vu Tien Thanh, Ho Chi Minh City was in a mess. The players and assistants filed a debt collection petition, while the club had not yet found a new coach. Mr. Phung Thanh Phuong agreed to take over as interim coach, along with assistants Dinh Hong Vinh and Nguyen Liem Thanh.

The team's leadership then settled part of the debt and promised to pay the rest in the near future. Therefore, despite being eliminated from the National Cup after losing 1-2 to Binh Duong four days ago, the spirit of the Ho Chi Minh City players is still somewhat stable. Playing at home, against The Cong - a team that has not been in good form since the beginning of the season (one win, two draws) - is not too challenging a task for Ho Chi Minh City.

Coach Thanh Phuong shares joy with goalkeeper Le Giang after helping Ho Chi Minh City Club defeat The Cong 2-0 in round 4 of V-League 2023-2004 at Thong Nhat Stadium on the evening of December 3. Photo: Dong Huyen

The match was interrupted in the first few minutes when goalkeeper Patrik Le Giang collided with a The Cong player, and had to bandage his head to continue playing. Players from both teams then played sparingly, unable to create an attractive attacking game. In this match, Ho Chi Minh City was at a slight disadvantage due to the absence of injured striker Brendon.

But the home team still found a way into The Cong's goal. In the 38th minute, from a corner kick, the ball was cleared by a The Cong player but not out of range. After Hoang Phuc's unsuccessful rebound, striker Cheick Timite promptly tapped the ball from close range into the net of goalkeeper Van Phong. After his first lucky goal, Timite only needed five more minutes to prove his ability. This time, he dribbled past The Cong's defense and then flicked the ball to Van Phong to double the gap.

The Cong team lacked midfielder Jaha in this match, but still had players like Hoang Duc, Thanh Binh, Bui Tien Dung, Nguyen Duc Chien, Phan Tuan Tai... However, they could not show their superiority against the home team. The away team's plays were too monotonous, easily neutralized by Ho Chi Minh City Club - who had actively retreated to defend. The rare significant play created by the away team was in the 65th minute, when Nham Manh Dung headed past goalkeeper Le Giang, but the ball went wide of the post.

The Cong (red shirt) were unlucky with their finishing in the second half. Photo: Dong Huyen

The 0-2 defeat left The Cong in seventh place with five points, while Ho Chi Minh City FC rose to fourth with seven points. After the match, The Cong coach Thach Bao Khanh admitted that his players did not play well. He said: "In the first half, we did not play well, so Ho Chi Minh City FC had many opportunities and they ended up scoring. The adjustments in the second half helped The Cong play better, but they were not lucky enough to convert them into goals. We need to improve and return to a more synchronized and cohesive playing spirit after this match."

Meanwhile, coach Phung Thanh Phuong considered this victory as a relief for the entire Ho Chi Minh City Club after the recent turmoil. He also revealed that he had carefully studied the players and playing style of The Cong, focusing on locking down midfielder Hoang Duc. "Obviously, Hoang Duc is a good midfielder and can easily cause a change, so my players followed the tactics to block him and succeeded," said Mr. Phuong.

In round 5 of the Night Wolf National Championship 2023-2024, Ho Chi Minh City will host Hai Phong at Thong Nhat Stadium, while The Cong will travel to the mountain town to meet host HAGL.

Duc Dong

Source link: https://vnexpress.net/clb-tp-hcm-danh-bai-the-cong-4684255.html