Group H: Hoang Anh Gia Lai fight back to share spoils with Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors
Moon Seon-min was on target for Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors against Hoang Anh Gia Lai for the second game in a row in Ho Chi Minh City on Monday, but Nguyen Van Toan’s second half strike earned the Vietnamese a 1-1 draw in Group H of the AFC Champions League™ 2022.
26/04/2022 10:05:10
Moon’s 17th minute header gave Kim Sang-sik’s side the lead three days after he scored an injury time winner against HAGL, although this time Kiatisuk Senamuang’s team came away with a point thanks to Van Toan’s 62nd minute equaliser.
The draw leaves Jeonbuk a point adrift of group leaders Yokohama F Marinos, who went into pole position with a 3-0 win over Sydney FC earlier in the day. F Marinos have nine points, one more than Jeonbuk while HAGL are level on two points with Sydney.
Moon looked to pick up where he left off in the previous meeting between the teams and had threatened throughout the opening exchanges, driving the ball over the bar from just inside the area after Han Kyo-won headed back into his path.
The Korea Republic international then directed a corner wide of the target before claiming the opener for Jeonbuk from a similar position in the 17th minute, the midfielder nodding Lee Seung-gi’s in-swinging set-piece beyond goalkeeper Huynh Tuan Linh.
Pic: VFF (Tuan Huu)
However, the lively Van Toan kept the Jeonbuk defence on its toes throughout the first half, with Hong Jeong-ho and goalkeeper Song Bum-keun both called into action to keep the striker from penetrating the rear guard.
It was Washington Brandao who fashioned the Vietnamese side’s best chance in the first half when, eight minutes before the break, he surged down the left side before unleashing a low strike that Song collected to his left at full stretch.
Pic: VFF (Tuan Huu)
When the equaliser did come, though, it was little surprise it was supplied by Van Toan. The striker hung on the shoulder of Hong as Nguyen Huu Tuan shaped to play the ball into his path and, after a perfectly weighted pass, the forward raced into the area to dispatch his shot into the top corner.
Vu Van Thanh and Kim Dong-su both narrowly missed the target while Van Toan’s shot flew the wrong side of the right post from outside the area in a frantic spell as HAGL pushed to take the lead while Moon saw his late attempt fly off target as both teams were forced to settle for a share of the points.
Pic: VFF (Tuan Huu)
Source: AFC
