Vietnamese goalkeeper makes AFC’s team of the week

Goalkeeper Nguyen Van Hoang in Hanoi FC’s 2-1 victory over Urawa Red Diamonds in AFC Champions League group stage on Dec. 6, 2023. Photo by VnExpress/Minh Dan

In the match at Hanoi’s My Dinh Stadium on Dec. 6, Hoang made five saves, including blocking a penalty in the 10th minute by Alexander Scholz.

This save was a turning point that helped Hanoi FC avoid conceding early.

They were then able to focus on defense before shocking everyone with two goals.

In the 53rd minute, defender Dao Van Nam put Hanoi ahead with a header.

In the 87th minute, Nguyen Hai Long was fouled inside the box and earned a penalty, allowing Pham Tuan Hai to convert from the spot and secure the 2-1 win. Hoang conceded only once in the 65th minute when Bryan Linssen finished from close range.

Hanoi’s victory was considered the biggest shock in the last round as it turned Urawa into a former champion, prompting their early elimination from the group stage. It was also the first time they lost to a Southeast Asian club in the competition.

Other players that made this week’s team of the round were Choi Woo-jin (Incheon United, South Korea), Kaito Kamiya and Peter Utaka (Ventforet Kofu, Japan), Ryotaro Tsunoda, Yan (Yokohama F. Marinos, Japan), Ramin Rezaeian (Sepahan SC, Iran), Junior Fashion Sakala (Al-Fayha FC, Saudi Arabia), Koffi Atchou (Al-Quwa Al-Jaw, Iraq), Mateus Uribe (Al Sadd SC, Qatar) and Reziq Bani Hani (Al-Faisal, Jordan).

The AFC Champions League’s team of the last group stage round. Photo by Asian Football Confederation

This is the second time Hanoi FC has had a player in the AFC Champions League’s team of the round this season. Previously, Tuan Hai made it when he scored a double to help Hanoi win 2-1 against Wuhan Three Towns in round four.

After six rounds, 16 clubs have advanced to the round of 16 of the AFC Champions League. The West Asia region includes Al-Ain (UAE), Al-Hilal, Al Nassr, Al-Fayha and Al-Ittihad (Saudi Arabia), Nasaf and Navbahor (Uzbekistan) and Sepahan (Iran). The East Asia region has Bangkok United (Thailand), Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors, Ulsan Hyundai and Pohang Steelers (Korea), Shangdong Taishan (China), and Yokohama F. Marinos, Ventforet Kofu and Kawasaki Frontale (Japan).