Hoàng Hên makes the V-League extremely 'hot'

The naturalized star Hoàng Hên shone brilliantly with a double, helping Hanoi FC secure a 2-0 victory over the top-ranked team CAHN, thereby keeping hope alive in the championship race and making the league's situation more exciting than ever.

The Capital derby on March 8th at Hang Day Stadium could be seen as a turning point of round 15. Before entering the match, CAHN was soaring with a streak of 13 unbeaten matches and firmly held the top spot with 35 points. The gap between coach Alexandre Polking's team and Hanoi FC reached 14 points, a number that made many think that coach Harry Kewell's team had almost lost hope of competing for the title.

But a "derby" is always a match of honor and emotion. Hanoi FC entered the match with great determination, not only to shorten the gap but also to affirm the status of the most traditional club in the V-League with 6 championships. And in an explosive evening, the name that made the difference was Hoàng Hên.

Early on, the newly naturalized player made the home fans erupt by scoring the opening goal. With his extremely effective left foot, Hoàng Hên unleashed a sharp shot that goalkeeper Nguyễn Filip had no chance to block. That goal not only gave Hanoi FC an advantage but also completely changed the match's situation.

The subsequent contest unfolded with very high intensity. Uncompromising collisions appeared continuously. Notably, two former teammates at Hanoi FC, Đoàn Văn Hậu and Nguyễn Văn Quyết, also had fierce confrontations, reflecting the tension of the match.

In the second half, CAHN pushed forward to find an equalizer. Coach Polking introduced striker China Alves into the game from minute 60, replacing center-back Trần Đình Trọng to enhance attacking power. However, while the attack couldn't make a difference, the CAHN defense made a mistake.

In minute 71, goalkeeper Nguyễn Filip fouled Fisher inside the penalty area, and Hanoi FC was awarded a penalty. On the 11-meter spot, Hoàng Hên calmly defeated Nguyễn Filip for the second time in the match, scoring to raise the score to 2-0 for the home team.

With this double, Hoàng Hên has scored 6 goals in 9 matches, an extremely impressive performance. The rising form of the naturalized player will surely attract coach Kim Sang Sik's attention when planning for the Vietnam national team in the near future. The Korean coach also attended Hang Day Stadium to watch this match and might have been very impressed with Hoàng Hên.

At the end of the match, Hanoi FC conceded a goal to make it 2-1 when Leo Artur successfully executed a penalty. But CAHN still suffered its first defeat of the season. Coach Polking's team remains at the top of the table with 35 points. However, the gap with the rivals behind has significantly narrowed. Hanoi FC continues to maintain its medal race with 24 points and the 4th position. The biggest beneficiary from CAHN's stumble is Thể Công Viettel.

At Becamex TP.HCM's Bình Dương Stadium, coach Velizar Popov's team dominated and secured a convincing 3-1 victory. In the 2nd minute, Khuất Văn Khang opened the score after a smart move and a precise finish. Although Thanh Long of Becamex TP.HCM luckily equalized shortly after, the match situation still belonged to the visiting team.

Before the first half ended, Văn Khang's corner kick created an opportunity for Lucao to head the ball, raising the score to 2-1. By minute 80, Lucao continued to shine by assisting Nata to score the decisive 3-1 goal. A standout match for Lucao and Văn Khang, who both scored and assisted to help Thể Công Viettel compete for the championship.

Coach Popov's team now has 31 points after round 15, narrowing the gap with CAHN to only 4 points and having played one more match than their rival. The championship race thus becomes much hotter.

In the rear, Ninh Bình continued to disappoint by only drawing with SHB Đà Nẵng at home. In coach Vũ Tiến Thành's debut match, the ancient capital's team still couldn't regain its form and extended its streak of 4 matches without a win. Ninh Bình ranks 3rd with 28 points.

Meanwhile, at the bottom of the table, Nam Định had to struggle hard to defeat PVF CAND 1-0. Despite creating many opportunities, striker Xuân Son was very unlucky by continuously missing. Only in minute 90 did center-back Lucas Alves score the decisive goal, helping Nam Định secure all 3 points. With 18 points, coach Vũ Hồng Việt's team still ranks 9th.

Hoàng Anh Gia Lai lost 0-1 to Công an TP.HCM despite playing quite well early in the match. Khoa Ngô's goal helped coach Lê Huỳnh Đức's team reach 23 points and return to the top group race. Công an TP.HCM ranks 5th after round 15.

Meanwhile, Thanh Hóa caused controversy by losing 0-1 to Hồng Lĩnh Hà Tĩnh. After the match, striker Lê Văn Thắng even went on social media to criticize the officiating.

At the end of round 15, PVF CAND stands at the bottom of the table with 11 points, while SHB Đà Nẵng also has 11 points but ranks higher due to goal difference. Coach Lê Đức Tuấn's team is rising thanks to the last 2 unbeaten matches, having 4 points, and SHB Đà Nẵng demonstrates a very commendable spirit. HAGL has 14 points, ranks 11th, and Thanh Hóa ranks right behind with 13 points.