Pressure haunts HAGL

Once again, HAGL fell to CAHN with a 1-3 score. Despite losing at Hang Day Stadium in a manner that showed improvement compared to the defeat in the away leg at Pleiku, Coach Le Quang Trai's squad had to accept being "breathed down their neck" by the opponents.

From the end of the first leg until now,HAGLhas shown a significantly more impressive face. The Mountain City team played resiliently and pragmatically with a very troublesome defensive-counterattacking formation.

However, HAGL also conceded defeat due to limited stamina and especially when facing a winning machine namedCAHNat the current moment.

From 2023 to now, the Mountain City team has only beaten CAHN exactly once and has lost four times. That disparity lies not only in the score, but also in class, squad depth, and match control ability.

At Hang Day Stadium, CAHN under Coach Alexandre Polking controlled over 70% of possession, forcing HAGL into a continuous defensive stance. The visiting team dropped deep, blocked the central route, conceded possession, and waited for counter-attacking opportunities.

The first half showed HAGL was well-prepared. The visitors defended disciplinedly, contested fiercely, and utilized rare moments effectively. In the 40th minute, Batista made a clever pass for Marciel to finish and open the scoring.

That was a deserved reward for their tight play and high concentration. Goalkeeper Trung Kien also made several excellent saves against shots from Leo Artur and Alan. In the first 45 minutes, HAGL genuinely troubled the league leaders.

But football is a 90-minute game, and HAGL only managed to play fully for just over 70 minutes. Excessive chasing drained their energy quickly. When their pressing intensity dropped, gaps began to appear, and Minh Phuc and Alves punished the visitors with 3 goals, sealing the familiar 3-1 score.

Two conceded goals in the final 20 minutes not only reflect fitness issues but also the story of squad depth. CAHN could make substitutions, increase tempo, and maintain pressure. HAGL could not. When key players grew tired, Technical Director Vu Tien Thanh lacked rotation options. That is the difference between a title-chasing team and one struggling in the lower half of the table.

After round 14 of V-League 2025/26, HAGL dropped to 9th place with 14 points, only 4 points above bottom-placed SHB Da Nang. That gap is not safe. SHB Da Nang, having just renamed Hoa Xuan Stadium to Chi Lang, "changed their fortune" with a heavy 3-0 win over PVF CAND in the "reverse final".

Coach Le Duc Tuan's team has 10 points and one match in hand. SLNA also defeated Hong Linh Ha Tinh 1-0 to climb to 8th with 16 points. The relegation battle is heating up each round, and every misstep comes at a cost.

The only positive is that HAGL is no longer as sluggish as in the early season. The Mountain City team organizes defense better, attacks more sharply, and shows more commendable fighting spirit. Against an undefeated CAHN since the season start, holding firm for over 70 minutes was a significant effort. But football is harsh in that effort alone is not enough to earn points.

Pressure is now breathing down HAGL's neck. Each loss not only causes Mr. Duc's team to fall in ranking but also fuels the motivation of the bottom group. Just one more stumble, and that fragile gap could be erased.

The Mountain City team does not lack potential but needs consistency throughout 90 minutes, requires greater stamina, and especially composure in decisive moments.

The 1-3 loss at Hang Day Stadium serves as a warning. If improvements are not made soon, HAGL will continue to live in fear of relegation. The road ahead is long, but in it, mistakes cannot be repeated.