Australian Coach: 'Hanoi is too strong compared to Ninh Binh'

Coach Harry Kewell praised Hanoi's dominant performance against Ninh Binh, while also pointing out his team's limitations, as young talent Anh Tiep continues to impress strongly.

Coach Harry Kewell shared notable insights after Hanoi FC secured a dramatic 3-2 victory over Ninh Binh in Round 20 of V-League 2025/26. At Ninh Binh Arena, the Capital's team not only successfully "avenged" but also displayed an impressive attacking style.

Speaking after the match, the Australian strategist emphasized: “This is an excellent result. We controlled the ball well, executed a coherent playing style, and created many opportunities. Ninh Binh almost couldn't stop us from reaching the final third of the pitch.”

Nevertheless, Coach Kewell also candidly pointed out his team's shortcomings. He believed Hanoi made things difficult for themselves by not finishing the match early, allowing Ninh Binh to rally in the second half. “We gave them opportunities from set-piece situations. When Ninh Binh switched to playing long balls, the whole team had to adjust. Fortunately, the defense remained solid,” he added.

In this match, Hanoi scored thanks to Hung Dung, Van Quyet, and young talent Anh Tiep. Meanwhile, Geovane and Quoc Viet were the scorers for the home team.

Notably, Nguyen Anh Tiep, a player born in 2006, continued to impress strongly in his rare opportunity. Coach Kewell praised his student extensively: “Anh Tiep is very eager to prove himself, trains diligently, and has great potential. The competition within the squad is fierce, even the key players have to be cautious.”

He also emphasized that the development path for young players requires time and persistence, encouraging Anh Tiep to learn from experienced seniors like Duy Manh.

On the other side, Acting Coach Bae Ji Won of Ninh Binh admitted that the decision to field Hoang Duc while not fully recovered was a gamble. “Hoang Duc is still sore, but we had to use him in the second half, even though we didn't want to risk it,” he shared.

With this victory, Hanoi has narrowed the gap with Ninh Binh to just 1 point, making the race at the top of the V-League more exciting than ever.