AFC Cup 2019: Van Quyet's brace sends Hanoi FC into inter-zone final

ABO/NDO – Captain Nguyen Van Quyet produced an excellent performance with a double to earn Hanoi FC a 2-2 draw at Altyn Asyr on August 27, thus helping his side win 5-4 on aggregate to book a ticket at the AFC Cup 2019 inter-zone final.

Van Quyet (No. 10) nets a brace against Altyn Asyr to help Hanoi FC win with an aggregate score of 5-4 and qualify to their first ever AFC Cup inter-zone final. (Photo: AFC)

After a 3-2 victory in the semi-final first leg at Hanoi’s Hang Day Stadium a week ago, Hanoi FC were full of confidence when they travel to Turkmenistan to face Altyn Asyr in the second leg.

Despite the disadvantage of having to play in the hot weather, the Vietnamese champions suddenly broke the deadlock, thanks to Van Quyet’s goal in the 15th minute. The Hanoi’s captain finished from close range after the hosts failed to clear Ngan Van Dai’s cross from the right wing.

Coach Chu Dinh Nghiem’s side were forced to play counter-attacks under huge pressure from the hosts.

The Turkmenistan champions finally found their equaliser on the stroke of halftime, as Serdar Geldiyew scored from the spot kick after the hosts were granted a penalty following a foul by Hanoi’s defender Van Dung to Resul Hojayew inside the box. No. 25 captain Geldiyew easily beat keeper Van Cong to level 1-1 for Altyn Asyr.

However, it was Van Quyet again to restore Hanoi’s lead just six minutes after the break. From a quick attack, Ngan Van Dai’s intelligent headed pass found Van Quyet and the 1991-born striker delivered a header above the stranded Mammet Orazmuhammedov into the net, extending Hanoi’s aggregate lead to 5-3.

Facing a mountain to climb, Altyn Asyr speeded up and put Van Cong’s goal under threat. Captain Geldiyew missed a golden change as he blasted a volley over the crossbar with 10 minutes remaining, however, the hosts once again levelled thanks to a second successful penalty kick in the 82nd minute. Mehail Titov was hauled down before Geldiyev converted from the spot once more to make it 2-2.

Titov forced Van Cong into a superb save just a minute later, but Hanoi held on to make history as the first ASEAN side to progress into the inter-zone final. They will face either Bangladesh's Abahani Limited Dhaka or DPR Korea’s 4.25 SC in the last meeting of the 2019 AFC Cup. Hosts 4.25 SC will go into the second leg of their semi-final against Abahani Limited Dhaka on Wednesday with an aim to rebound from a 4-3 loss in the first leg.

(Source: NDO)