HÀ NỘI — HCM City beat Hoàng Anh Gia Lai (HAGL) 5-3 in the 22^nd round of the V.League 1 yesterday.

The game was held at Thống Nhất Stadium.

The visiting side HAGL played confidently from the first minutes of the match and striker Nguyễn Công Phượng had the opener for HAGL in the 13^th minute.

With an early goal, HAGL seemed to relax, creating conditions for the hosts to fight back.

In the 19^th minute, from a confused situation in front of HAGL’s goal, receiving a pass of Văn Thuận, Vũ Quang Nam beat goalie Rmah Sươ to equalise the score of 1-1 for the hosts HCM City.

Only two minutes later, Trần Phi Sơn raised the score to 2-1 for HCM City.

HAGL fought back strongly to seek goals but their defense line lacked focus, and they let in another goal in the 33^rd minute.

From a penalty kick in the right wing, HCM City’s midfielder Nguyễn Hữu Tuấn coolly put his header past goal keeper Sươ to write his name in the scoresheet.

After the break, HAGL’s defenders continued to notch disappointments. Following a mistake by Đức Lương, striker Huỳnh Kesley took the ball to lead it to the penalty area and then beat HAGL’s goalie in the 76^th minute to lift the score to 4-1.

Nearly 10 minutes later, receiving a favorable pass from his teammate, Kesley once again shone to help the hosts lead 5-1.

With nothing left to lose, HAGL made every effort to narrow the gap. They enjoyed a penalty kick in the 87^th minute and striker Phượng reduced the score to 2-5.

In the extra time, HAGL’s Nguyễn Văn Anh headed to fix the match of 3-5.

In the other match played yesterday, Thanh Hóa tied 2-2 with Nam Định.

Elsewhere, Hải Phòng beat Sài Gòn 1-0 and Quảng Nam defeated Cần Thơ 2-1.

After 22 rounds, Hà Nội FC take the lead with 55 points, followed by Khánh Hòa with 39 points and Sông Lam Nghệ An with 35 points. — VNS