HA NOI — Some of the countries top young football stars will do battle in Ha Noi today.

All eyes will be on the match between Hoang Anh Gia Lai (HAGL) and Ha Noi FC in the V.League 1 at Hang Day Stadium in Ha Noi today.

Previously, the match was postponed because of the State funeral of former Prime Minister Phan Van Khai on March 20-21.

The match will feature many members of the national under-23 team that finished second in the U23 Asian Football Confederation in China in January.

Ha Noi FC are currently second in the table with two wins and one draw, while the mountainous side have one win and two draws to rank eighth.

If Ha Noi win, they will take first place from Quang Ninh Coal.

Among the capital side’s seven national U23 players, midfielders Tran Dinh Trong and Do Duy Manh performed excellently as defensive midfielder, helping Viẹt Nam withstand heavy pressure in most of the team’s matches. They have featured in all three of Hà Nọi’s league games this season.

Meanwhile, among the six HAGL players who played for the U23 team, Vu Van Thanh and Nguyen Van Toan have played all 270 minutes for HAGL in the league this year. In a 3-2 win against Nam Dinh, striker Toan scored the opener.

Nguyen Phong Hong Duy and Luong Xuan Truong have also netted for HAGL, while midfielder Nguyen Quang Hai hasn’t scored any goals for Ha Noi.  Hai was the hero of the U23 team as he scored five goals at the continental event.

According to former coach Nguyen Thanh Vinh, Ha Noi FC are more confident and energetic than HAGL.

“I think that young players of Ha Noi play better. Coach Chu Dinh Nghiem combined the youth of the U23 players with veterans such as midfielder Pham Thanh Luong who won Golden Ball awards in 2009, 2011, 2014 and 2016 and striker Nguyen Van Quyet to create a strong team,” said Vinh.

“Despite having the support of technical director Chung Hea-seong, HAGL don’t have much tactical versatility,” Vinh added.

Vinh said the visitors have only a 30-40 per cent chance of winning.

“There are many factors for my comment. For example, in terms of weather, Ha Noi is very dry and hot. It is not cool like in Pleiku City where HAGL play. Besides, Hà Nọi’s foreign players are more accomplished than HAGL. Ganiyu Bolayi Oseni of Ha Noi is the league’s top scorer with three goals in three matches,” said Vinh.

HAGL have lost their four most recent matches against Hà Nọi in the capital. — VNS