ACL 2016 PS2: HANOI T&T 1-0 KITCHEE

Playing Vietnamese opposition for the first time since defeating Ninh Binh 4-3 on aggregate in the quarter-finals of the 2014 AFC Cup, the East Asians went into the match buoyed by a 3-0 Hong Kong Premier League triumph over South China last Saturday, while the Hanoi T&T were till smarting from finishing second best to Binh Duong once again after the 2015 V. League and Vietnam FA Cup runners-up lost 2-0 to the double-winners in the Vietnamese Super Cup.

Neither side could take the initiative in the opening period as the first half at the Hang Day Stadium ended goalies before Hanoi T&T skipper Gonzalo Marronkle broke the deadlock shortly after the hour mark.

The Argentine striker, who has been with the two-time Vietnamese champions since 2009, struck in the 62nd-minute with his third goal in the ACL qualifiers having bagged a brace in Hanoi T&T’s 4-0 win over Persib Bandung in their ultimately fruitless quest to reach the 2015 tournament, which ended with a 7-0 hammering at the hands of FC Seoul.

Hanoi T&T’s hopes of joining arch rivals Binh Duong in the Group Stage of the 2016 AFC Champions League now rest on defeating another South Korean side, with Phan Thanh Hùng’s side taking on 2009 ACL champions Pohang Steelers.

The team that emerges victorious from the February 9 clash at the Steelyard will slot into Group H, where reigning continental champions Guangzhou Evergrande, 2007 ACL winners Urawa Reds, and Sydney FC await.