The 22-year-old Mansaray, a former U-18 and U-20 international for the USA, had previous stints with MLS sides Seattle Sounders and FC Cincinnati, before arriving in Vietnam at the start of the current V-League 1 season.
While he could be forgiven for basking in the limelight given his outstanding individual showing, Mansaray is already focusing on the next game.
“It is a special feeling for sure, and I’ll just let it sink in,” he told the-AFC.com.
“It’s just a dream moment, but now I’m ready to go back to work because we don’t have that much time off, the games keep coming fast, so we don’t have too much time to sit out there and think what’s next.
“It was nice getting to score a hat-trick but now my focus is on the next one. So I’m already focused on the next game, but incredibly happy at the same time, so it’s all smiles here.”
Group G: Becamex Binh Duong vs Shan United FC
Having beaten Shan United in their previous match in Yangon two weeks ago, the Vietnamese side was looking to make it back-to-back wins in the AFC Cup to keep in touching distance of Ceres Negros at the top of Group G.
The win not only moves them into second spot in the group, but also provided a healthy boost to their goal difference, which could be important in the latter stages of the group in determining which teams progress to the ASEAN Zone semi-finals.
“It was a big win for sure, it was very important,” Mansaray said.
“It gives us a boost in energy and makes us feel like we can go out there and get the points. (It) makes us look very confident and very dangerous.”
The win was also improves their chances of advancing to the knockout rounds for the first time since 2010.
“We know what our goals and ambitions are. Qualifying to the next stage of this tournament will be huge, so the three points last night were solid.
"Now we just look forward to Persija (Jakarta) and see what happens. t’s not a must-win game, but we will go out there with the ambition and purpose to win that game.
"We know if we beat Persija at home we’ll set ourselves up for a good test on the road with Ceres.
“So the Persija game is important, it’s everything to us at this point, so we will go out there and give our best and try and get a result.”
Reflecting on his move to Vietnam, the Sierra Leone-born forward said he is enjoying the experience of playing football outside America for the first time in his career.
“I just recently joined, but I’m doing good and I’m enjoying my time in Vietnam,” he said.
“It’s a different country compared to America, but I’m enjoying my life here and the football is going good. I’ve just got to focus and keep doing what I do.”
