PETALING JAYA: Kuala Lumpur must win their final game in Group B of the Asean Club Championships to qualify for the semi-finals after losing to Cong An Ha Noi.
The City Boys lost 2-3 to the Vietnamese club in a pulsating affair that saw the home side given two red cards at the Cheras Football Stadium in Kuala Lumpur on Thursday (Jan 23).
Kuala Lumpur could have led as early as the third minute but midfielder Ryan Lambert’s left-footed volley went over the bar.
Despite Kuala Lumpur’s spirited start, Cong An surged ahead in the 10th minute through playmaker Nguyen Quang Hai, who sent a brilliant left-footed shot past Kuala Lumpur goalkeeper Hafizul Hakim.
Kuala Lumpur levelled the score when Montenegrin centreback Adrijan Rudovic headed the ball past goalkeeper Felip Nguyen in the 22nd minute.
The home side took the lead in the 31st minute when Bosnian winger Jovan Motika, who was relentless on the flanks, unleashed a superb cross to give KL a 2-1 lead.
The equaliser for Cong An came in the 66th minute through a header from centreback Bui Hoang Viet Anh.
Kuala Lumpur were down to 10 men in the 73rd minute when rightback Kamal Azizi Zabri was sent off after reacting to a tackle by kicking winger Nguyen Dinh Bac in the chest.
And 14 minutes later, the home side were down to nine men after Josue was sent off for elbowing a defender.
Cong An took advantage of the situation when winger Le Van Do pounced on a loose save from Hafizul to score the winner in the dying stage of the game.
With the win, the club became the first side to book a spot in the semi-finals.
Kuala Lumpur are third in the group with seven points from four matches and will complete their group stage by taking on Thai club Buriram United at the Chang Arena in Buriram on Feb 6 and a win is a must if they want to get to the semi-finals.
