Group H: Hai Phong FC (VIE) 3-2 Sabah FC (MAS)
Hai Phong FC roared back into contention for a place in the knockout stage with a 3-2 win over Sabah FC in Group H of the AFC Cup™ 2023/24 on Tuesday.
26/10/2023 13:56:08
The win took the Vietnamese side level on six points with their previously undefeated opponents.
Hai Phong, disappointed after their 2-1 defeat to Singapore’s Hougang United, started with purpose at the Lach Tray Stadium as they kept Sabah on the backfoot.
Their early aggression paid off in the 14th minute when Nguyen Huu Son’s shot from distance and a difficult angle ended in the back of the net.
Dam Tien Dung doubled their advantage four minutes later with his left footed shot from outside the box sailing into the bottom right corner.
Sabah attempted to find a way back but had to wait till the 71st minute for their opener, with Ramon Machado heading home Darren Lok’s cross.
Hai Phong, however, restored their two-goal advantage a minute later with Dam netting his second of the game.
Gary Steven Robbat gave Sabah a glimmer of hope with his 80th minute goal but Hai Phong were not to be denied the three points.
The two teams meet again in Kota Kinabalu on November 9.
Source: AFC
