Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Hanoi: Gonzalo Marronkle and Samson Olaleye each scored twice as Vietnam’s Hanoi T&T marched into the final round of play-offs for a place in the group stage of the AFC Champions League after easing to a 4-0 win over Indonesia’s Persib Bandung in Tuesday’s Preliminary Round.
Argentinian forward Marronkle opened the scoring before half-time for the V.League runners-up at My Dinh Stadium before Olaleye doubled Hanoi’s advantage at the start of the second half.
And with Marronkle and Olaleye increasing the lead either side of the hour mark, Hanoi will travel to Korea Republic next Tuesday to face 2013 finalists FC Seoul for a place in Group H alongside former winners Guangzhou Evergrande from China, defending champions Western Sydney Wanderers from Australia and Japan’s Kashima Antlers.
Hanoi, who lost at this stage last year to Thailand’s Muangthong United having earlier beaten India’s Pune in the opening round, began brightly with Marronkle, Olaleye and Vietnam internationals Pham Thanh Luong and Nguyen Van Quyet threatening for the home side in the opening exchanges.
And 12 minutes before half-time the home side were rewarded as Marronkle converted from the penalty spot after Do Duy Manh had been fouled inside the area by Dias Angga Putra.
Hanoi, who eventually reached the quarter-finals of the AFC Cup last year, continued to press and should have added a second in the last minute of the first half as Olaleye wasted a glorious opportunity with only goalkeeper I Made Wirawan left to beat.
But the Nigeria-born naturalised Vietnamese striker made amends less than a minute into the second half as Olaleye converted following good work from strike partner Marronkle.
And with Bandung’s confidence dropping, Hanoi added a third three minutes before the hour mark as Marronkle beat two defenders before firing past Wirawan.
With 19 minutes remaining there was still time for a fourth and final goal as Olaleye headed home Nguyen Quoc Long’s cross to seal the win.
Indonesia Super League champions Bandung, though, were able to finish the game strongly as Hanoi goalkeeper Duong Hong Son was first called into action to deny Bandung captain Atep with seven minutes remaining and two minutes later, Malian striker Makan Konate saw his penalty saved by Hong Son.
Photo: Otto Syaban / Simamaung