FLC Thanh Hoa on April 25th drew Yangon United 3-3 at the Hanoi’s My Dinh Stadium in Group G.
It was the third time they came from behind to snatch a draw in their first time they were participating in the continental-levelled tournament.
Yangon United made a perfect start when Guinean striker Sekou Sylla put them ahead in just the second minute.
Thanh Hoa needed eight minutes to come over the early goal loss to produce an equalizer.
Trinh Dinh Hung made a wonderful overlapping run before whipping in a pinpoint cross for Pape Omay Faye whose header was too powerful for Yangon keeper Sann Sat Naing.
The visiting side went ahead for the second time when Sekou Sylla fired a shot pass goalie Tran Buu Ngoc of Thanh Hoa just 20 minutes later.
The equaliser was set up again when Naing failed to clear a ball from Le Van Thang’s first finish. Thang was presented with an easy tap into an open net.
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The visitors took the lead for the third time just after the hour mark when Maung Lwin got his second assist of the night, with his free-kick to the back post being headed home by Zaw Thein.
A late goal from Thanh Hoa’s substitute Ryutaro Karube’s header effort finalised the result of the match.
Yangon United, who lost just once in the group stage, topped the group with 13 points. They will face Ceres-Negros of the Philippines, second in Group F, in the semi-finals next month.
Thanh Hoa were placed third in the group with six points and ended their tournament.
Earlier on April 24th, a second-half penalty from Safiq Rahim earned Johor Darul Ta’zim of Malaysia a 3-2 win over Vietnamese Song Lam Nghe An in Group H in Johor.
That looked like it was on the cards after a blistering opening to the match from the home side, dominating the exchanges before finally taking the lead after 36 minutes when Safawi Rasid blasted home from the edge of the area.
Their lead was doubled just minutes later when Syafiq Ahmad rose to head home La’vere Corbin-Ong’s cross as Johor Darul Ta’zim looked headed for a comfortable victory.
But a loss in concentration in the final five minutes of the first half proved costly as first Nguyen Viet Nguyen and then Ho Tuan Tai scored to draw the visitors level at 2-2 heading into half time.
Defender Nguyen Sy Nam of Song Lam Nghe An blocked Rasid’s shot with his hand, and captain Safiq Rahim stepped up to the spot to put the home side ahead again.
Song Lam Nghe An stood in second position but it was not enough to push them into the semi-finals.
Johor Darul Ta’zim were at third and ousted from the event./.