Football
Nguyễn Văn Quyết of Hà Nội FC (second, right) tries to pass Hồng Lĩnh Hà Tĩnh players during their National Cup match on March 12. Hà Nội win 2-1. Photos of VPF
HÀ NỘI — Hà Nội struggled to beat Hồng Lĩnh Hà Tĩnh 2-1 to earn a place in the National Cup's quarter-finals on March 12.
On home ground, Hà Nội played without their sharp striker Nguyễn Tuấn Hải who was sidelined because of a leg injury that he suffered last week during a V.League 1 match against Quảng Nam.
However, the hosts still dominated most of the first half. Striker Pereira Junior Denilson opened the score for Hà Nội in the 18th minute, taking advantage of a misplacing mistake of Hà Tĩnh goalkeeper Thanh Tùng.
Nearly 20 minutes later, Phạm Xuân Mạnh sent a perfect ball to Tagueu Tadjo Diederrick Joel in the box to head home, 2-0 for Hà Nội.
The second half saw Hà Tĩnh rising as many attempts were created, putting high pressure on Hà Nội's defenders and keeper Quan Văn Chuẩn. However, they could only convert one of many opportunities into goal in the 86th minute by Vũ Viết Triều, who sent the ball to the high far corner past Chuẩn.
In the other match, Đông Á Thanh Hóa eased to the last eight round after beating Phù Đổng Ninh Bình 3-0 at the Thanh Hóa Stadium.
Captain Lê Văn Thắng scores a hat trick in Thanh Hóa's 3-0 win over Phù Đổng Ninh Bình.
Captain Lê Văn Thắng pulled off a hat trick, scoring in the 28th, 45th and 52nd minutes.
Phù Đổng Ninh Bình tried hard to resist but failed to defend their sheet under Thanh Hóa's dominance.
The score would be higher for the host side if their players Lâm Ti Phông and Võ Nguyên Hoàng had not wasted threatening finishes.
At Lạch Tray, Hải Phòng beat Quảng Nam 2-1, securing their first win after a streak of seven with no wins in the national leagues.
Defender Bicou Bissainthe and striker Goncalves Silva Lucas Vinicius netted for the hosts in the 17th and 19th minutes.
Quảng Nam narrowed the count to 1-2 with a score by Ngân Văn Đại three minutes later.
The second half featured attempts from both sides but no goal was scored.
In the last game, PFV People Police won 2-1 over Đồng Nai in the debut match of captain Nguyễn Xuân Nam.
Nam signed a contract with PVF during the transfer window last week and the striker was expected to strengthen the club's front line.
His teammate Trần Đức Nam opened the score in the 19th, but Vũ Bá Hải Dương made it equal with a super long-distance finish three minutes later.
Xuân Nam proved his scoring skill with a goal at the last minute, wrapping up a win and a berth in the next round for PFV.
The quarter-finals' fixture will be confirmed later after players finish their national team duties for the 2026 World Cup qualification and the Asian U23 Cup. VNS
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