Da Nang stay on top with victory over DTLA

Long An, who are bidding for a record third straight league title, were eliminated from the Asian Champions League last week following a 4-0 loss to China”s Shandong Luneng in the third round. Long An still have three games left in the continent”s premiere club competition.

Yesterday, Brazilian striker Ameilda Jose De Emidio struck twice before and after the break to give Da Nang three points. The win helped the central province”s team steal back the lead a day after Binh Duong climbed on top with a 2-1 home win over twice champions Hoang Anh Gia Lai.

Emidio scored his first goal in the 34th minute off a set up from Phan Thanh Phuc, who made a solo burst along the right wing to the 16.5m box and sent up a nice pass, which Emidio volleyed home.

Fifteen minutes into the second half, Emidio sealed the win for the home team when his header finished off countryman Rogerio Machado Pereira”s curving shot from the right wing.

On Saturday, two second-half goals by Nigerian Amaobi helped Binh Duong come from behind to beat Gia Lai, sending them to the top of the table for about 24 hours.

Tran Duy Quang opened the scoring five minutes after kick off as Gia Lai, who won the V-League in consecutive seasons before being dethroned by Long An in 2005, were looking to avenge a 2-1 defeat in Binh Duong last year.

The hosts” efforts paid off on 70 minutes when Amaobi”s quick feet slotted the ball past goalie Tran Quoc Viet in a scramble. Eight minutes from time, the Nigerian raised high to meet Nguyen Huu Thang”s cross and headed home the winner. About 15,000 spectators at Go Dau stadium started a wild celebration.

Binh Duong, who have beaten their two main opponents in their race to the league title, including a 4-3 triumph over Long An in the fourth weekend, now have the same 16 points with leaders Da Nang but ranked behind on goal difference.

Gia Lai dropped to fourth place after the loss on 12 points, two behind Khatoco Khanh Hoa who moved up a place after the 1-0 win over Pisico Binh Dinh on home field last Saturday.

Khatoco Khanh Hoa continued their impressive run, getting a winning goal from Ghana”s Jonathan Quartey. It was their fourth victory in five games after a 3-1 defeat to Long An, who maintained eighth spot after the loss yesterday.

Elsewhere over the weekend, Huda Hue fought back hard after going 2-0 down to beat visitors Phu My Fertiliser Nam Dinh 3-2.

The crucial victory moved Hue further away from the danger zone into ninth.

Halida Thanh Hoa upset hosts Song Lam Nghe An on Saturday with a second half goal from Mai Tien Thanh to jump two places to fifth, two points behind Gia Lai.

Nam Dinh slid down a spot to sixth, sharing nine points with seventh-placed Binh Dinh, while Nghe An dropped three steps to the relegation area.

In HCM City, Southern Steel-Sai Gon Port beat visitors Ha Noi ACB 2-1 for their second victory, jumping from 13th to 10th with seven points.

Hoa Phat Ha Noi, who disappointed home fans yesterday at Hang Day Stadium losing 3-2 to bottom-ranked Dong Thap, also fell down on the rankings to 11th. They joined a six-point group which includes Nghe An and Dong Thap. Dong Thap moved off the bottom after their season”s first win yesterday in Ha Noi to stay just a point ahead Ha Noi ACB who now sit on the basement after the loss in HCM City.

VNS-Nhan dan