Striker Nguyễn Văn Toàn (middle) opened the score and had one assist to help HAGL beat Bình Định 2-1 in the V.League 1 on Sunday. Photo nld.com.vn

Football

HÀ NỘI — Coach Kiatisuk Senamuang was satisfied with his Hoàng Anh Gia Lai (HAGL) team's 2-1 victory over Bình Định in the V.League 1 on Sunday, but the Thai coach said the best is still yet to comes.

Playing at home, HAGL scored two early goals through strikers Nguyễn Văn Toàn and Washington Brandão dos Santos and the visitors pulled one back through Hendrio Araujo Dasilva in the 66th minute.

"In the first match of this year’s event, we lost to Sài Gòn, in the second match, Bình Định bested Sài Gòn, so before this match, our players were under a little bit of pressure to win. This was a difficult match,” said Kiatisuk.

“That is why HAGL players only played to 70 per cent of their abilities. We won three points in this game but in the coming time, we need to train and learn more to improve our way of playing and achievement,” Kiatisukadded.

Coach Nguyễn Đức Thắng of Bình Đình said it was an entertaining game that the two teams gave the fans.

“In the first half, HAGL had the home advantage so they scored two goals first, putting us in a difficult situation. In the second half, we played better and scored one goal. If we had enough luck, we would have scored more goals,” said Thắng.

With six points, HAGL moved to fourth place in the rankings, while Bình Định are ninth with four points.  

HAGL will next face Hồng Lĩnh Hà Tĩnh, while Bình Định meet SHB Đà Nẵng who lead the table nine points.

In other news, defender Quế Ngọc Hải returned from injury and scored in the 23rd minute to help defending champions Viettel beat Bình Dương 3-1.

Although striker Nguyễn Tiến Linh equalised for Bình Dương in the 30th minute, Viettel secured the three points thanks to goals from Pedro Paulo in the 34th minute after a terrible mistake from the Bình Dương goalkeeper and Venancio Caique in the 85th minute.

This was the first win for the champions this season, putting them in eighth position on four points.

"The COVID-19 pandemic made all clubs have a break. We have had time to promote our strength. In this match, our players completed my tactics well. Viettel deserved the win completely," said coach Trương Việt Hoàng of Viettel.

Meanwhile, former US international Lee Nguyễn was unable to lead the languishing HCM City FC to win points at the Cẩm Phả Stadium in Quảng Ninh Province, where they lost 2-0 to Quảng Ninh. — VNS