Viet Nam News
Football
HA NOI — V.League 1 defending champions Ha Noi FC face Tampines Rovers of Singapore away in the second match of Group F of the AFC Cup 2019 today.
Ha Noi lead the group with the after opening their campaign with a dominant 10-0 win against Nagaworld of Cambodia. Tampines Rovers also won three points against Yangon United of Myanmar but they rank second because of goal difference.
Coach Chu Dinh Nghiem will have the service of national U23 players Nguyen Quang Hai, Nguyen Thanh Chung, Truong Van Thai Quy, Dau Van Toan and Doan Van Hau to prepare for the game.
“Ha Noi FC and U23 Viet Nam team have an agreement. After competing with Tampines Rovers, Hanoian players will return to the U23 team to prepare for the qualification of AFC U23 Championship on March 13,” said Nghiem.
According to Nghiem, Ha Noi are in the good position condition to take a win at Jurong West Sports and Recreation Centre.
In the V.League 1, Ha Noi beat Viettel 2-0 in a derby last week to rank second in the standings.
Meanwhile, Tampines Rovers lead the Singapore Premier League 2019 (SPL) with two wins.
They are the best team of Singapore now with five SPL titles, three National Cups and one ASEAN Club Championship. They entered quarter-finals of AFC Cup in 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2016.
In their four previous meetings with Tampines Rovers at the AFC event, Ha Noi have two wins, one draw and one loss.
Meanwhile, another Vietnamese representative, National Cup champions Becamex Binh Duong will face Ceres-Negros of the Philippines in Group G at home at Go Dau stadium.
Binh Duong began the tournament with a goalless draw against Indonesian side Persija Jakarta, while Ceres Negros defeated Shan United of Myanmar.
Ceres Negros FC are considered a prominent name of the Southeast Asian region. Although they were only founded in 2012, they have won the Philippines Football League three times in 2015, 2017 and 2018 alongside National Cup and United Football League FA League Cup titles.
According to the website www.footyrankings.com, the Filipino team rank 31st in the list of top Asian teams.
Ceres Negros do have a Vietnamese connection, as Alvaro Silva played for Ha Noi FC for one season in 2016-17.
Binh Duong’s best performance in the AFC Cup came in 2009, when they made a surprise run to the semi-finals. — VNS