Striker Amarildo (9) was the hero who completed the comeback for Thể Công-Viettel FC. VNA/VNS Photo Minh Quyết

Anh Đức

HÀ NỘI In the big stadium debacle at the end of last season, Thể Công-Viettel FC was the loser, as they had to leave Hằng Đẫy despite being a tenant for most of their history.

But in their first match at their new home of Mỹ Đình National Stadium, the Red Tornadoes had the last laugh, defeating city rivals Hà Nội FC 2-1, despite having been behind for 75 minutes.

Just a day before the club's 70th birthday, Thể Công's red wall of fans had high hopes for their team taking the three points. The opening minutes seemed to have certify that faith, as the boring Thể Công in the 0-0 draw was no more, but rather, a pacey counterattacking team that stayed true to their past reputation.

In the tenth minute, the men in red put the ball into Hà Nội's net, which would have opened the score line, had it not been for Henrique's clumsy offside touch.

Thể Công had considerably more opportunities than their opponents, even when superstar Nguyễn Hoàng Đức was benched, however, the first half was not fruitful for Nguyễn Đức Thắng's men and Đức was subbed on in the second half.

Eventually Hà Nội FC found a way to spoil Thể Công's party, despite a lousy game in attack. In the 57th minute, a great ball from Đỗ Hùng Dũng found Joao Pedro inside the penalty area. Quảng Thế Tài saved the Brazilian's initial volley, but Pedro did not miss the rebound and put The Purple ahead.

In the stands, a stoic Phạm Tuấn Hải looked on as his teammates squandered chance after chance to double their lead. This is perhaps Hà Nội FC's terminal illness - a squad with immense local talent, but their foreign players do not live up to those expectations.

The missed opportunities soon came back to haunt the men in purple in the 75th minute, as a cross from Khuất Văn Khang found Trần Danh Trung, who headed straight to keeper Nguyễn Văn Hoàng.

Hoàng fumbled the save and the ball seemingly went over the line just before the Hà Nội keeper was able to clutch it. It took VAR about five minutes to check, but the equaliser stood for Danh Trung and his teammates.

And just when fans thought the match would end in a draw, Thể Công completed their amazing comeback in the 90th minute, with a towering header from Amarildo Aparecido into the bottom corner. The immediate reaction from Thể Công fans was ecstatic, while the confused Hà Nội fans kept asking how could their team conceded that goal?

Mỹ Đình Stadium is a short distance from where the Hà Nội players train so it would be a long walk back with a ton of unanswered questions for Lê Đức Tuấn and his team.

For Nguyễn Đức Thắng's Reds however, it would be a good night sleep and a giant step in showing who is the boss in the capital's football landscape. VNS