Quang Nam grab first National Super Cup in narrow win

ABO/NDO – Quang Nam claimed their first ever National Super Cup trophy after edging out Song Lam Nghe An 1-0 at Hanoi’s Hang Day Stadium on February 24 thanks to the match’s solitary goal scored by defender Thiago in the last minutes of the first half.

Quang Nam enjoy a fabulous start to the 2018 football season. (Photo: NDO/Tran Hai)

The reigning V-League champions entered the match without their foreign striker Claudecir, while the 2017 National Cup winners, Song Lam Nghe An, lacked the service of first choice goalkeeper Nguyen Manh due to injury.

The Nghe An team created the better share of opportunities, but were profligate in the face of goal and often blocked by Quang Nam’s defensive line and keeper Van Cuong.

Manager Hoang Van Phuc set his Quang Nam side up to hit Nghe An on the counter attack, which proved a shrewd choice of tactics.

Three minutes before the break, from a freekick 16m50 out, Phan Thanh Hung lofted the ball into the box, allowing Thiago a close range tap in to give Quang Nam the lead.

In the second half, Song Lam Nghe An pushed hard for an equaliser; however, manager Nguyen Duc Thang’s players were unable to find the back of the net.

The narrow victory lifted Quang Nam to the first National Super Cup trophy in the club’s history – a fabulous start to the 2018 season for Hoang Van Phuc’s side.

(Source: NDO)