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Chung Hae-seong’s troops dominated the opening 20 minutes, deploying a series of dangerous attacks on the home side, but could not turn their possession into a goal.
Despite their slow start, SLNA were the first to find the back of the net, with Tuan Tai slotting a shot in an empty net two minutes from the half hour mark.
After the unexpected goal, HCM City raised their pressure seeking for an equaliser. The guests received their chance in the 39th minute as they were awarded a penalty following a handball from SLNA’s Quang Tinh in the box. From the spot, Mansaray made no mistake in beating keeper Nguyen Manh and restoring the parity for his team.
After the break, SLNA came close to resuming their lead with Xuan Manh having fired a shot over the cross bar in a one-on-one with goalie Thanh Thang.
The remaining minutes witnessed retaliatory attacks from both sides, but it was HCM City who made better use of their opportunities. In the 78th minute, Ewonde met Quoc Thien’s cross to shoot past keeper Nguyen Manh, sealing a 2-1 victory for Chung Hae-seong’s side.
With the win, HCM City have narrowed their gap with leaders Hanoi FC to only two more points. However, the capital side still can restore their five-point advantage if they manage to beat Nam Dinh FC in their rescheduled Matchday 22 fixture this September 11.
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Hoang Anh Gia Lai players celebrate their victory. (Photo: VPF)
On the same day, Hoang Anh Gia Lai came from behind to edge past SHB Da Nang 2-1 at home, thus making a significant step toward escaping the relegation zone at the end of the season.
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