HAGL coach regrets last-minute loss to Hà Tĩnh

Coach Lê Quang Trãi showed regret after HAGL lost 0-1 to Hồng Lĩnh Hà Tĩnh in the 10th round of the V.League, due to a late penalty decision.

HAGL continued their unlucky streak in the 2025 V.League by losing 0-1 to Hồng Lĩnh Hà Tĩnh in round 10, despite a resilient performance, only succumbing to a penalty at the end of the match.

The match at Hà Tĩnh started evenly with both teams cautious from the outset. Under Coach Lê Quang Trãi’s guidance, HAGL deliberately played a slower game, focusing on ball control and layered defense to minimize space for the opponents. Meanwhile, Hồng Lĩnh Hà Tĩnh maintained a solid style, using the speed of their foreign players to pressure goalkeeper Trung Kiên’s goal.

In the opening minutes, HAGL’s defense was focused, repeatedly neutralizing the home side’s attacks. However, the turning point came in the 88th minute when Atshimene was fouled inside the penalty area. After reviewing VAR, referee Nguyễn Mạnh Hải awarded Hà Tĩnh a penalty. The Nigerian striker calmly converted the spot-kick, scoring the match’s only goal.

After the match, Coach Lê Quang Trãi voiced his disappointment over HAGL losing points at the last moment: “We approached this game very seriously and carefully. Our goal was to secure at least one point, but things didn’t go as planned. Today’s result is truly unfortunate for HAGL.” He also mentioned that bad weather affected the team’s play and acknowledged the effort of all players.

The mountain town team’s coach added: “The whole team gave their best. Perhaps we should be understanding given the playing conditions. Hopefully, HAGL will quickly move past this loss and prepare better for the next match.” Despite the defeat, HAGL showed improvement in their playing style and fighting spirit under the new coach.

This loss leaves HAGL near the bottom of the standings with 7 points. Coach Lê Quang Trãi admitted the team is under significant pressure in the relegation battle: “We need to work harder in the upcoming rounds if we want to escape the bottom group. Even with one game in hand, HAGL remains in a very precarious position.”

In round 11, the mountain town team will return to Pleiku to face Đông Á Thanh Hóa — a match seen as an opportunity for HAGL to regain winning form.