ACL qualifying playoff round one: Pune FC 0-3 Hanoi T&T FC – Red Lizards move into the AFC Cup

Pune FC 0

Hanoit T&T FC 3 (Gallagher 52, Van Quyet 71, Hector 83)

Pune FC: Amrinder Singh; Othallo Tabia, Anas Edathodika, Calum Angus, Gurjinder Kumar; Dhanpal Ganesh (James Meyer 55), Gabriel Fernandes, Douhou Pierre (Lalrempuia Fanai 79), Arata Izumi (Thongkhosiem Haokip 74), Anthony D’Souza; Riga Mustapha

Hanoi T&T FC: Nguyen Van Cong; Nguyen Quoc Long, Sam Gallagher, Nguyen Van Bien, Nguyen Hong Tien; Hughton Hector, Cao Sy Cuong, Pham Thanh Luong (Nguyen Van Quyet 67), Van Hieu Bui (Dao Duy Khanh 87), Nguyen Ngoc Duy; Hoang Vu Samson (Van Dong Nguyen 90+2)

Pune FC’s hopes of reaching the 2014 AFC Champions League group stage ended at the first hurdle as they were beaten 3-0 at home by Vietnam champions Hanoi T&T FC in round one of the qualifying playoff on Wednesday.

Second-half goals from Australian Sam Gallagher, substitute Nguyen Van Quyet and Trinidad & Tobago midfielder Hughton Hector sealed Hanoi’s place in round two where they have another away tie against Thailand’s Muangthong United.

As a result of their defeat, Pune will be playing in group stage of the 2014 AFC Cup, where they have been placed in Group H alongside Nay Pyi Taw (Myanmar), Kitchee (Hong Kong) and Tampines Rovers or Balestier Khalsa (Singapore).

With home advantage on their side, Pune were hopeful of winning this tie and there weren’t any big surprises in their starting lineup with academy graduate Dhanpal Ganesh starting in midfield ahead of Mumtaz Akhtar while former Bolton and Levante attacker Riga Mustapha once again started as the lone striker upfront.

Hanoi T&T’s Argentinean striker Gonzalo Marronkle was doubtful before the game and was only named on the bench but it was otherwise a full strength lineup with Nigerian-born Hoang Vu Samson leading the attack.

Both teams had half chances in the opening stages but Hanoi T&T looked more comfortable in possession. The first big opportunity though fell to Pune when Anthony D’Souza forced a save off Hanoi keeper Nguyen Van Cong but Gabriel Fernandes somehow couldn’t score from the rebound despite being unmarked.

The home team enjoyed a spell of pressure after that missed opportunity but couldn’t seriously test Van Cong. But the V-League champions dominated possession and often looked to catch out the I-League runners-up with their quick passing. Pune custodian Amrinder Singh had to come out of his goal on a couple of occasions and make clearances.

Hanoi T&T ended the half strongly as Amrinder had to save the goal-bound efforts of Pham Thanh Luong and Nguyen Ngoc Duy in quick succession.

Pune had a decent opening at the start of the second period when the ball fell kindly to Ganesh after the Hanoi T&T defence had failed to clear Arata Izumi’s cross but the youngster’s weak effort was easily saved by Van Cong.

Pune FC wasted chances before Hanoi T&T’s opener
Photo Credit: Pune FC

After a spell of neat possession, the visitors broke the deadlock from a corner as Gallagher headed home Thanh Luong’s delivery. Pune conceded for the tenth straight game as they were punished for some poor defending.

Pune coach Mike Snoei made a positive change by bringing on Australian James Meyer for Ganesh and the hosts started creating a few half chances with Ivorian Douhou Pierre and the experienced Mustapha being more influential. The Red Lizards also won a few freekicks but the delivery from Englishman Calum Angus was poor on both occasions.

Hanoi T&T coach Phan Thanh Hung brought on Van Quyet in place of Thanh Luong midway through the second period and the substitute had an instant impact as he headed home Hector’s well-measured cross. At 2-0, Pune had a mountain to climb and Snoei finally switched to two forwards as Thongkhosiem Haokip replaced Arata Izumi to play alongside Mustapha.

Surprisingly though Pune’s chief creative force Douhou was taken off as young Lalrempuia Fanai was brought on and just four minutes later Hector scored the third to kill the game off. It was a delightful finish from the outside of the right foot by the 29-year as the two-time Vietnam league winners ended any chances of a Pune FC comeback.

There was no consolation goal for Pune also but they have a maiden AFC Cup appearance to look forward to from next month. However Snoei will be concerned with the team’s form as they have won just once in their last ten games since the end of November.