Ninh Bình FC defeated the home team Hanoi Football Club at Hàng Đẫy Stadium, but Spanish coach Gerard Albadalejo was still upset with the refereeing crew.
In the 83rd minute of the game, substitute player Văn Quyết took a shot that hit the post and bounced out, and Xuân Tú was there in time to tap the ball into the net, helping Hanoi narrow the score to 1-2.
Coach Gerard Albadalejo said in the post-match press conference: "Their goal resulted from a very obvious handball right in front of us.
Coach Gerard Albadalejo expressed dissatisfaction with the refereeing team during the Hanoi - Ninh Bình match. Photo: Hoàng Linh
The main referee might not have seen it because he was standing far away, but the assistant was right there. It’s hard to understand why no flag was raised. Additionally, there were a few other situations I believe should have been dealt with differently. I was angry because that moment was very important and could have influenced the match's outcome."
Regarding the 2-1 victory over the home team, Mr. Gerard Albadalejo was thrilled: "Today was a wonderful day; we achieved a win against Hanoi FC, a strong team with a long history that always fights until the end. This was truly a tough match, and this victory holds great significance for the entire team.
I want to send special congratulations to Hoàng Đức. Today he showed a fighting spirit that was almost ‘out of this world.’ Despite facing fitness issues, Hoàng Đức still took the field with a strong desire to help his teammates and contribute to the fans, coaching staff, and the club. He is an excellent example of leadership and responsibility.
We knew this would be a very challenging match, especially when we were not in the best physical condition. Hanoi FC is always an opponent that can intimidate any team. But if you want to win here, you must endure and persist until the very end. We accomplished that and deserved today’s result."