According to coach Bozidar Bandovic, Hanoi FC lost 2-4 to Pohang Steelers due to lack of experience in their first participation in the AFC Champions League.
At My Dinh Stadium on the evening of September 20, Hanoi started well and created three good chances but Herlison Caion, Van Quyet, and Pham Tuan Hai missed them. In the 30th minute, rookie center-back Damien Le Tallec scored an own goal, turning the game around against a strong opponent like Pohang Steelers - a team that has won this tournament three times.
"My players probably lost control of their emotions after the first goal and lost so quickly," said coach Bandovic. "If we had taken advantage of the good opportunities before, perhaps the match would have turned in a more favorable direction."
Coach Bozidar Bandovic got angry in the second half when Hanoi FC's formation was not kept properly. Photo: Hieu Luong
In the next nine minutes, Hanoi conceded two more goals. In the second half, the team conceded a fourth goal in the 49th minute. Coach Bandovic admitted that his team lacked determination in marking and kept their formation too far apart, so they could not put pressure on the opponent. When these two things were improved, Hanoi controlled the game better and scored two goals from rookie striker Joel Tagueu.
The Cameroonian striker and midfielder Marcao Silva were also the two best foreign players. The other four names were somewhat obscure, making mistakes or wasting opportunities. After that, coach Bandovic sent Thanh Chung in to replace Le Tallec, Dau Van Toan replaced Brandon Wilson and Pham Xuan Manh replaced Milan Jevtovic, helping Hanoi play better. Coach Bandovic said that the reason was because the players had too little time to integrate, so they did not connect well, but did not consider such personnel choices a mistake.
Center back Damien Le Tallec (white shirt, right) made a mistake that caused Hanoi FC to concede the first goal. Photo: Hieu Luong
"After a bad result, everything is always negative and wrong," he said. "I always tell the players not to worry about what happens because I am the one responsible."
Hanoi finished bottom of Group J, while Pohang Steelers led with three points. In the other match, Wuhan Three Towns drew 2-2 with AFC Champions League defending champions Urawa Red Diamonds.
The second round will take place on October 4, with Hanoi traveling to Saitama Stadium, Japan, facing many challenges against Urawa. Coach Bandovic believes that Hanoi will change after learning from the loss to Pohang Steelers.
Hieu Luong
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