Hoang Anh Gia Lai eye return after AFC Champions League heroics
Forward Nguyen Van Toan and head coach Kiatisuk Senamuang vowed that Hoang Anh Gia Lai will be back in next year’s AFC Champions League™ after the Vietnamese side concluded this year’s campaign with a 1-0 win over Sydney FC on Sunday.
Making a return to the AFC Champions League after a 16-year absence, HAGL won many admirers with their never-say-die attitude as they finished with five points, claiming four of those against Sydney and the fifth from Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors.
“It has been a tough tournament playing against three of Asia’s best teams but we have really enjoyed ourselves,” said Van Toan, who played a key role for HAGL and was named player of the match on multiple occasions.
“We enjoyed pitting ourselves against top quality players and all of us have benefitted tremendously from the experience.”
His future the subject of much speculation, Van Toan said he is now focused on recovering before spearheading HAGL’s domestic campaign.
“We want to play in the AFC Champions League again next season. My only focus now is on helping the team win the Vietnam title to seal a return,” said Van Toan.
Kiatisuk paid tribute to his players, saying they had given their all in the six matches.
“I have to say I am very proud of my players. The expectation from the media and fans before the tournament was that we would not get even a single point.
“We have finished with five and this is all due to the players. They fought hard till the end and repaid the tremendous support they received from the fans,” said the former Thailand striker.
Kiatisuk insisted that this is just the start for HAGL.
“Before the match, I told the players that this is the stage we want to be playing on regularly.
“I challenged them to end this year’s campaign with a win and then, we start focusing on qualifying again next,” said Kiatisuk.
As HAGL celebrated a successful return to the AFC Champions League, Sydney FC will depart Ho Chi Minh City ruing their missed opportunities.
“We have to admit we were just not good enough this time,” said Sydney head coach Steve Corica.
“We expected to win two, three games but instead lost. We were not good enough in the first half against HAGL but improved in the second but it wasn’t good enough.”
