Coal, HCM City top first round

Viet Nam Coal defeated Ha Nam team 1-0 and HCM City beat Hanoi by the same score-line in the first leg of the National Women’s Football Championship…

21/06/2007 00:00:00
Viet Nam Coal defeated Ha Nam team 1-0 and HCM City beat Hanoi by the same score-line in the first leg of the National Women’s Football Championship on Tuesday.

HCM City and Hanoi had sent their players to train in China to maximise their chances to win the championship and played with their strongest teams.

Although the Hanoi team had more national players they missed many scoring chances and it was captain Kim Chi of HCM City who scored the only goal from the penalty spot in the 65th minute.

In Son Tay Stadium, Ha Nam tried to score early so they attacked from the first using the strength of their national players, Van Thi Thanh and Vu Thi Lanh, down the wings but though they created many chances they could not score.

In the 25th minute, against the run of play, they conceded a penalty for handball and Viet Nam Coal’s captain, Mai Lan, converted from the spot.

The tournament has pitted Ha Tay, Hanoi, HCM City, Ha Nam, Viet Nam Coal and Thai Nguyen against each other in two round robin stages.

The first stage, to July 5, is being played at Ha Dong and Son Tay stadiums while the second stage will be played at Thai Binh Stadium and the Nam Dinh Sports Training Centre from July 10-27.

The champions will win VND80mil (US$5,000), while runners-up will receive VND60mil ($3,700), more than double the third place prize of VND30mil ($1,800).

VNS