Australian media highly impressed by CAHN's star-studded lineup advancing to the Champions League

Australian media paid notable attention to Hanoi Police FC players after their 2-0 victory over Adelaide United, particularly highlighting the sharpness of their attack and the outstanding performance of goalkeeper Filip Nguyen.

The 2-0 win at Coopers Stadium not only secured Hanoi Police FC a spot in the 2026/27 AFC Champions League Elite but also drew significant interest from Australian media.

In an article titled "Adelaide United lose valuable Champions League Elite ticket after defeat to Vietnamese opponents," journalist Marco Monteverde of Adelaide Now devoted most of the content to discussing the disappointing performance of the home side.

Adelaide was described as having a "lifeless" match, while questions about their attack continued to surface. According to the article, the A-League representative's lack of sharpness was once again evident, and the team urgently needs to add a quality striker before the domestic season begins.

On the flip side, Hanoi Police FC was mentioned in more positive terms. Author Marco Monteverde stated that the Vietnamese representative was clearly the "sharper" side in decisive moments. This was clearly demonstrated through goals by David Henen and Brayan Perea.

For the opener in the 41st minute, the author described Henen receiving a pass from Perea, getting past Panagiotis Kikianis before unleashing a powerful shot that goalkeeper Joshua Smits couldn't stop, while emphasizing that this was the moment the visitors began to show their superiority in taking chances.

In the second half, David Henen's impact continued to be evident. After directly opening the scoring, he switched to a playmaking role with a well-timed cross for Brayan Perea to finish and make it 2-0.

Perea was also a name that Australian media paid special attention to. The Colombian striker was described as an "attacking trump card" for Hanoi Police FC and immediately proved his worth with a goal on his debut. That strike also showcased the effectiveness of the Vietnamese team, as they capitalized on the opportunities they had to create a safe margin on Adelaide's home turf.

Not only the attack, but Filip Nguyen was also frequently mentioned. The Hanoi Police FC goalkeeper denied Ethan Alagich's shot in the 53rd minute, when Adelaide was desperately seeking a comeback. Late in the match, Filip Nguyen further saved a header from Ryan White, keeping a clean sheet for the Vietnamese side.

However, the figure who drew the most attention was Stefan Mauk. Sports website Code Sports even described the former Adelaide United midfielder as "haunting his old club" after returning to Coopers Stadium in the colors of Hanoi Police FC.

Mauk was jeered by a section of home fans every time he touched the ball, but ultimately he "had the last laugh."

After the match, the Australian midfielder stated that Hanoi Police FC players were very proud to represent Vietnam and the club on the continental stage.

"I hate beating Adelaide, to be honest. This is the club I grew up with and always supported. But once you step onto the pitch, you always want to win,"Mauk shared.

Hanoi Police FC's victory therefore carried even more meaning for the 30-year-old player. He returned to the very place where he spent many years, faced his hometown team, and helped the Vietnamese representative secure a ticket to Asia's most prestigious club competition.