Not long ago, Hanoi Police Club won 6-1 against Tampines Rovers in the C1 Southeast Asian Cup, before closing the tournament without being able to go deep.
However, if viewed from a professional perspective, this can hardly be seen as an affirmation of the true strength of the Police sector team. In that match, instead of using the strongest squad, Tampines Rovers gave opportunities to many reserve players and played with a mindset that did not put too much emphasis on the result.
In that context, the resounding victory of Hanoi Police has more meaning in terms of spirit and image than reflecting the gap in strength.
In fact, Tampines Rovers is a formidable team. They have shown impressive form at the AFC Champions League Two when they passed the group stage with an unbeaten record.
Falling into a group with strong opponents such as Bangkok United and Pohang Steelers, the Singapore representative still won most of the matches. This shows that Tampines Rovers is not an easy opponent to bully.
For Hanoi Police, the first leg at home in the round of 16 is of great significance. Coach Polking's team needs a favorable result to reduce pressure for the away match in Singapore afterwards.
However, the key factor still lies in limiting personal mistakes, which once cost them in regional and continental arenas. If they maintain focus and good organization, Hanoi Police can create the necessary advantage against the opponent.
The match between Hanoi Police and Tampines Rovers in the 1/8 round of the AFC Champions League Two takes place at 7:15 PM on February 11.
