Ha Noi T&T beat Pune FC 3-0 in AFC play-off round on Wednesday. — Photo VNA

HA NOI (VNS) — Viet Nam's Ha Noi T&T booked their place in the second round of qualifying for the 2014 AFC Champions League on Wednesday with a 3-0 win over Indian Pune FC.

While playing at Shree Shiv Chhatrapati Stadium, Pune City, all three goals came in the second half, as the V-League champions prepare to clash with Thailand's Muangthong United next week as they seek to become the first Vietnamese team since 2008 to reach the group stages of the continental club championship.

"Our team prepared very well for this game," said Ha Noi coach Phan Thanh Hung. "Today, our team played according to the strategy and I am happy with their performance.

"Before the game, we tried to gather a lot of information about Pune. We knew the team was strong in the air, so I asked the players to play short-passes and keep the ball to control the game. We defended tight and attacked fast, as I would have liked," noted Hung.

After a goalless first half, former Australia youth international player Sam Gallagher gave Ha Noi the lead seven minutes after the restart and, 19 minutes later, Nguyen Van Quyet doubled his side's advantage with an assist from Trinidad and Tobago international Hughton Hector.

Hector then added the third goal, himself, seven minutes from time, to seal the win for Ha Noi and set up the clash with Muangthong on February 8.

The remaining matches in the first round of qualifiers for the 2014 AFC Champions League will be played on February 2. — VNS