Southeast Asian media made a surprising comment about Quang Hai

In the group stage match of the ASEAN Club Championship 2025/26 held on the evening of January 28, Cong An Ha Noi (CAHN) was defeated 0-2 by Selangor, officially ending their journey at the group stage.

This result left Vietnamese fans feeling deeply disappointed, especially as key midfielder Nguyen Quang Hai continued to demonstrate his value with numerous dangerous combinations and impressive game management skills. Thai media also posted remarks stating that Quang Hai is the best midfielder in Southeast Asia.

"Truly outstanding performance, I must admit Nguyen Quang Hai is the finest playmaker in Southeast Asia. His level is extremely high, every pass smooth and visually pleasing. It's just a pity that Cong An Ha Noi lost and got eliminated."- fanpage Buriram Prankster v2 commented on midfielder Nguyen Quang Hai.

Right after the whistle blew, the home team Selangor aggressively pushed forward with many sharp attacking moves. However, CAHN’s defense and goalkeeper Filip Nguyen remained focused in the first half, helping the Vietnamese club keep a clean sheet. In the second half, the game became more balanced as Cong An Ha Noi started organizing central plays and had a chance to score after a beautiful volley by Bui Hoang Viet Anh in the 50th minute, forcing the Selangor keeper to make a great save.

However, defensive errors and the sharpness of Selangor’s attackers caused Cong An Ha Noi to pay the price. In the 60th minute, from a failed shot by a teammate, Faisal Halim was quick to score the rebound, opening the scoring for the home side. Just 9 minutes later, the striker completed his brace with a decisive shot from outside the box, making it 2-0 and deciding the match outcome.

This defeat not only caused CAHN to miss the chance to improve their ranking but also left them with only 4 points after 4 matches, placing fifth and unable to compete for one of the two semifinal spots due to losing the head-to-head tiebreaker with the second-placed team.

Although the result was not as expected, Nguyen Quang Hai’s performance remained a remarkable highlight for the fans. With his exquisite technique and ability to control the game's rhythm, Hai was always the backbone in CAHN’s attacks. His creative passes continuously challenged the opposing defense, making the match more exciting. This once again confirmed his position among the top playmaking midfielders in Southeast Asia, despite his team’s early exit from the tournament.

With the 2-0 win over Cong An Ha Noi, Selangor further solidified their lead in Group A, while CAHN became one of the earliest teams eliminated from the group stage. This match not only reflected the effectiveness of the home team’s tactics but also served as a valuable lesson for Cong An Ha Noi about accuracy and decisiveness in attacking situations.