After last weeks away day adventure to Thanh Hoa it was time to get back to the Hang Day stadium in Hanoi for T&T’s first home game of the season, welcoming local rivals(ish) Quang Ninh to the capital.

Hà Nội T&T 0-1 Than Quảng Ninh

The Contras had done a great job in rallying up more support throughout the capital, and over 6,000 turned up, creating a decent party atmosphere, even with the annoying vuvuzela like air horns.

On the pitch, striker Gonzalo returned, albeit in central defence, with Loris Arnaud keeping his place alongside Samson upfront. After a quick counter attack and some sloppy defending, Nghiêm Xuân Tú blazed over for the visitors in the first real chance of the game.  Moments later  Huỳnh Tuấn Linh, in the visiting goal, tipped Nguyễn Văn Quyết’s excellent freekick on to the bar.

New signing, George Bisan’s work rate in the number 10 role was exceptional in the first half, gathering the ball and being involved in nearly every Quang Ninh attack.

Quang Ninh celebrate Rod Dyachenko’s winning goal

The match remained goalless at halftime. The second half saw T&T ‘keeper Anh Duc make two fine saves as Quang Ninh pressed. Eventually, Rod Dyachenko, a nuisance throughout rose highest to head home Nguyễn Hải Huy superb cross and put the visitors in front. The big Russian striker should have sealed the win when clean through on goal only to see his effort creep narrowly wide of the far post.

The tactical change from new coach Phạm Minh Đức saw him send Gonzalo upfront and revert to a 4-2-4, with instructions to pump it forward! In response, the big Russian Dyachenko dropped back to protect his defence.

This was proper pub football tactics. Duy Manh, a good central midfielder, dropped in to T&T’s defence and at my last count that’s 5 different players to have played central defence in the last 2 games, 3 of whom are not naturally defenders.

Four defeats in five this season (ACL, Super Cup & League) with 9 goals conceded with only one scored; it looks to be a long season for HaNoi T&T and new coach Phạm Minh Đức.

Hà Nội T&T 0-1 Than Quảng Ninh

Dyachenko Rodion Sergey 66′

Hàng Đẫy stadium: 5,000