Hanoi: Coach Phan Thanh Hung is well aware Vietnam’s Hanoi T&T will have to raise their game even further in next week’s AFC Champions League play-off with former finalists FC Seoul despite easing to a 4-0 victory over Indonesia’s Persib Bandung in Tuesday’s Preliminary Round.
Argentinian forward Gonzalo Marronkle and Nigeria-born naturalised Vietnamese striker Samson Olaleye each scored twice for the V.League 1 runners-up at My Dinh Stadium.
And Hanoi, who failed to reach the final round of play-offs last year after losing to Thailand’s Muangthong United, will now travel to Korea Republic next Tuesday to face 2013 finalists FC Seoul at Seoul World Cup Stadium in the South Korean capital for a place in Group H.
"I'm very happy with this victory. All players showed very high mentality, good motivation, good performance and really played to win,” said Hanoi coach Thanh Hung (pictured during last year’s AFC Cup campaign).
“I hope that my players will be better in the next game against the South Korean side. It's not a problem to play the day just before New Year’s Day, in fact we passed the same situation last year.
“I believe that my players are professional, so they will try their best in the next round.”
Either Hanoi or FC Seoul will face former winners Guangzhou Evergrande from China, who beat FC Seoul on away goals in the 2013 final, defending champions Western Sydney Wanderers from Australia and Japan’s Kashima Antlers in Group H of the AFC Champions League.
Bandung, meanwhile, will now head Group H of the AFC Cup alongside Myanmar’s Ayeyawady United, Lao FC from Laos and Maldivian club New Radiant having struggled to cope with the home side.
Emral Abus’ side did finish strongly, but after Bandung captain Atep was denied by Hanoi goalkeeper Duong Hong Son with seven minutes remaining with their first real chance of the contest, Malian striker Makan Konate saw his penalty saved two minutes later.
"It's quite a surprise with the result of the game, but I know that the main reason is the bad physical condition of our players after a long flight,” said Bandung coach Emral Abus.
“Many players were tired so they didn’t have good concentration during the game.
“I think Hanoi T&T is a really a good team. They have good players and they played well today.
“Their crosses were very dangerous for us and really useful in this game. Congratulations to Hanoi T&T.”
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