AFC Champions League qualifying playoff: Rivals’ watch - Hanoi T&T

Pune FC host Vietnam’s Hanoi T&T in the first round of the 2014 AFC Champions League qualifying playoff on Wednesday. Sportskeeda starts the build-up by profiling the reigning V-League champions.

History

Hanoi T&T managed a hattrick of promotions before winning their first V-League title in 2010

Formed only in 2006, the rise of Hanoi T&T Football Club has been similar to that of Pune FC in Indian football. But unlike Pune, Hanoi T&T had to start their journey in the third division, the fourth tier of Vietnamese football, in 2006. They qualified for the second division on the very first attempt and then incredibly followed it with two successive promotions to seal their place in the 2009 V-League. The start in the top flight was difficult as they were engaged in a relegation battle in the first phase and it led to the sacking of head coach Trieu Quang, who brought the club up from the fourth tier to the V-League. The appointment of Nguyen Huu Thang changed the club’s fortunes as they recovered to eventually finish fourth in their debut campaign.

Hanoi T&T won the V-League in their second season (2010) and in doing so became the first club from the Vietnam capital (Hanoi) to win the top flight title since 1998. The domestic title gave the club’s sponsors, the T&T group, further incentive to invest more and it wasn’t just limited to the first team as they also took over the youth team of Cong An Hanoi (now called Hanoi FC), who were on the decline both on and off the field. Hanoi T&T were V-League runners-up in 2011 but featured in the AFC Cup that year because of their title triumph in 2010. It was their first-ever appearance in an Asian competition but they were eliminated from the group stage. In 2012 also they finished runners-up in the league but won their second title last year to get a qualifying playoff berth in the 2014 AFC Champions League.

Current Team

The second top flight title came last year

Under current head coach Phan Thanh Hung, who took charge in 2010, Hanoi T&T have never finished outside the top two and last year they won the title with a game to spare. Most of their best players from the title winning campaign have been retained including the V-League’s joint top scorers – Argentinian Gonzalo Marronkle and Nigerian-born Hoang Vu Samson, who was originally known as Samson Kayode but has become a naturalized Vietnam citizen now and thus is eligible for their national team. Brazilian defender Cristiano Roland has been replaced by former A-League defender Sam Gallagher, also a former Australia under-23 international. Their third foreigner is Trinidad and Tobago midfielder Hughton Hector and all four of those foreign-born players are part of the 16-man squad that has made the trip to Pune.

The squad also comprises four players who were part of Vietnam’s last international match against UAE in November 2013. They are defender Nguyen Van Bien and midfielders Cao Sy Cuong, Nguyen Ng?c Duy and Ph?m Thanh Luong. V-League 2013 concluded in August last year and the new season only started in January so Hanoi T&T have only played four competitive matches this term compared to Pune’s 17. They lost the Super Cup final to Vietnam Cup holders Ninh Binh on penalties but started their league title defence with back-to-back wins over Binh Duong and Hoang Anh Gia Lai. However the two-time V-League winners were beaten 3-1 at home by Ninh Binh last Wednesday. Thus they will be eager to bounce back with a win against Pune and stay on course to become the first Vietnam club to feature in the AFC Champions League group stage since 2008.

Key Players

Nguyen Van Bien

The 28-year-old played for the club in the 2011 AFC Cup also and represented Vietnam at both under-23 and senior levels. Bien will have to play an important role in central defence to both help Hanoi T&T win and keep his place in the national team.

Cao Sy Cuong

The 29-year-old is the midfield general of Hanoi T&T and is one of the most experienced players, having made his international debut back in 2003. His midfield battle with Pune’s Douhou Pierre could be decisive in this playoff.

Hoang Vu Samson

Samson is now eligible to represent Vietnam at international level

The 25-year-old signed for Atletico Madrid in 2011 but didn’t make any appearance for the Spanish giants and controversially moved to Hanoi T&T. The Nigerian-born forward has an excellent scoring record for the Vietnam champions with 34 goals in 48 appearances.