Severe crisis forces Thanh Hóa to use goalkeeper as striker

The game between Thanh Hóa and Hanoi Police Club (CAHN) was highly intense, concluding with a remarkable turnaround by the top-ranked team. Importantly, Thanh Hóa had to contemplate the extreme measure of deploying their goalkeeper as a forward near the end.

Right after the kickoff, the home team started with strong determination. Thanh Hóa pressed aggressively, contested fiercely, and continuously applied pressure on CAHN’s half. In the 28th minute, Damoth Thongkhamsavath capitalized on a defensive error from the visitors, skillfully chipping the ball from outside the penalty area. The ball hit the crossbar and then went into the net, stunning the opposing goalkeeper and giving the Thanh Hóa side a 1-0 lead.

In the second half, the resilience of the league leaders showed at the right moment. At the 56th minute, foreign player Alan calmly converted a penalty kick, leveling the score. Just 10 minutes later, a pivotal moment occurred. Spotting goalkeeper Xuân Hoàng positioned high up the field, Văn Hậu launched a daring shot from midfield, crafting a masterpiece that silenced the entire stadium and put CAHN ahead 2-1.

After conceding the second goal, Thanh Hóa began to show signs of fatigue. By the 80th minute, Quang Hải accelerated down the right flank and crossed with his weaker foot for Alan to complete his brace, securing a 3-1 victory for CAHN..

Significantly, since only 17 players were registered for the match and the substitute list included two goalkeepers, coach Mai Xuân Hợp was forced to consider an extreme strategy. In the 89th minute, with nothing left to lose, Thanh Hóa sent goalkeeper Y Eli Nie onto the field as a striker in hopes of scoring an equalizer. Prior to that, former U23 Vietnam goalkeeper Trịnh Xuân Hoàng, who had already prepared jersey number 67 to be ready to play as the highest forward, was also mentioned as an "emergency striker" option.

The fact that a goalkeeper had to play as a striker highlights the severe shortage of players at Thanh Hóa. However, the late effort was not enough to change the outcome against a high-performing CAHN.

With the full three points, CAHN firmly secured the top spot with 32 points after 12 matches, distancing themselves from the chasing pack. Meanwhile, Thanh Hóa not only suffered a loss but also faces a difficult personnel challenge moving forward in the season.