Vietnam midfielder leads votes for best goal in AFC Champions League 2nd round

By Hoang Nguyen June 30, 2021 | 08:38 pm PT

Nguyen Hoang Duc (R) dribbles past a defender in the ACL Champions League game between Viettel FC and Kaya-Iloilo on June 29, 2021. Photo courtesy of the Asain Football Confederation.

Nguyen Hoang Duc of Viettel FC is dominating the polling for the best goal of the AFC Champions League match day two.

"Viettel FC recorded a historic first-ever win in the AFC Champions League, and it was Nguyen Hoang Duc who got the ball rolling," the Asian Football Federation (AFC) said on its website.

"Not even two minutes had passed when the forward opened his – and his side's – account, coolly side-footing into the bottom right corner from just inside the area for the first in a 5-0 win over Kaya FC-Iloilo [of the Philippines]."

Duc has so far got the most votes for best goal on the AFC site, 74.7 percent, followed by Argentine midfielder Leandro Velaquez of Malaysian champions Johor Darul Ta’zim (16.8 percent).

The thumping win over Kaya sent Viettel to second in group F with three points from two games.

In the first match they suffered an unfortunate 0-1 loss to defending champions Ulsan Hyundai of South Korea with a last-minute own goal.

On July 2 they will take on Thai champions BG Pathum United.

This is Viettel’s first ever ACL tournament.

The 2020 V. League champions are Vietnam’s only representative in this competition.

The second round of matches in the ACL saw 34 goals rain down in 10 matches.