Only a day after last year’s runners-up Hanoi FC suffered an early blow in a 3-0 shock defeat to Nam Dinh FC, it was Viettel’s turn to be handed their first defeat of the new season.

The highlight of the second round of the first matchday was the clash between Viettel and Hai Phong at Hanoi’s Hang Day Stadium on Saturday night.

Viettel (in red) suffered an early setback in their title defence campaign with a 1-0 defeat to Hai Phong in their first match of the new season on January 16, 2021.

The contrast between hosts Viettel - the reigning champions and Hai Phong - a team who struggled to avoid relegation in the 2020 season, made many think an easy victory was inevitable for the hosts led by coach Viet Hoang.

However, contrary to previous predictions, Viettel could not show their strength at home, letting the visitors dominate in the first half with good performances from their two foreign spearheads Andre Diego Fagan and Jermie Dwayne Lynch.

Hai Phong’s dominance paid dividends in the 16th minute. After Fagan missed a chance in the box, the ball reached Nguyen Phu Nguyen and the Hai Phong midfielder easily slotted the ball into the empty net to open the scoring for the visitors.

Viettel sped up the game in the second half and had several other opportunities, but their strikers failed to score and they had to accept the 1-0 defeat in their first match of the new season.

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Source: Nhan Dan Online