Nguyễn Hoàng Đức (centre) scores the second goal for Viettel in a match between Viettel and Hà Tĩnh on July 27 in Hà Nội. Viettel won 4-0. Photo of VPF

HÀ NỘI — The video assistant referee (VAR) system's use has been both welcomed and cursed after it was applied for the first in Việt Nam on July 27 in Hà Nội.

Viettel FC defeated Hồng Lĩnh Hà Tĩnh 4-0 in which the VAR gave the hosts a penalty in additional time.

Playing on home ground, Viettel dominated the game from the beginning. They opened the score in the 12th minute with a goal by Mohamed Essam.

National midfielder Nguyễn Hoàng Đức scored a brace in the second half in the 69th minute and additional time. His first goal was also checked by VAR as told he was offside. After the VAR check, his goal was recognised.

Hà Tĩnh also had threatening attempts but all were either denied by goalkeeper Phạm Văn Phong or went out.

The last goal of the team also came in the additional time when referee Ngô Duy Lân checked VAR and gave Viettel a spot kick. Midfielder Nguyễn Đức Chiến successfully netted and sealed the 4-0 win for the hosts.

"Having VAR in the match, referees would avoid mistakes. However, I believe that VAR is not everything. As we can see at World Cup, matches still go on until the ball goes out and then VAR will get brought in. But here, in this first match, using VAR cost a lot of time and interrupted the game for a long time," said Hà Tĩnh coach Nguyễn Đức Thắng referring to 15 minutes of additional time.

Referee Ngô Duy Lân checks VAR during the match. It is the first time that VAR was in use in Việt Nam's football league. Photo bongda.com.vn

"Referees and VAR in this game are okay but if there was no VAR I think that referee would not give Viettel the penalty."

On the other side, coach Thạch Bảo Khanh of Viettel said he was not familiar with VAR yet.

"I have never experienced the feeling of waiting for a goal for such a long time. We can't claim to have VAR at the same time without the game being interrupted. I believe in the future referees will make decisions faster," he said.

As in the plan, VAR will be applied in one match each round till the end of the season. FIFA will observe the implementation of the technology for three years.

In another match on July 27, Đông Á Thanh Hóa beat Topendland Bình Định 2-0 to top the V.League 1.

Bruno Cunha scored a brace in the 38th and 83rd minutes for the hosts.

Thanh Hóa are temporally on top of the league with 29 points while Bình Định place No 8 with 19 points. VNS