V-League 2008: The Cong topple in Hai Phong clash

The Cong Viettel stumbled in Hai Phong on Sunday, January 13 during the V-League clash featuring all newcomers, losing 2-1 with an own goal from host Fabiano Silva.

Hai Phong”s second win had put them off to a smooth start, with two victories in their comeback to the top-flight V-League competition following their away 2-1 triumph at the season debut over last season”s fifth-placed Da Nang on January 6.

The Ha Noi-based Army Club, The Cong, impressed fans with an away 1-0 victory over defending champions Becamex Binh Duong in their first game returning to the V-League over the previous weekend.

Sunday”s stumble at Lach Tray stadium set them back after two years fighting at the First Division for a promotion.

Silva gave visiting The Cong an early lead seven minutes into the game when the Brazilian striker put the ball in his home goal by mistake, but he atoned for his mistake just four minutes later with a spectacular header that put the game back in balance.

The deadlock was broken after Silva”s equaliser which inspired the hosts to speed up and the visitors to play more aggressively.

The Cong, however, lost power when the team was decreased to ten men after Trinh Quoc Long was sent off for an offensive booking.

The hosts capitalised on the guests” disadvantage and they went ahead in the 22nd minute with Leandro de Oliveira scoring a goal with a devilish freekick.

Hai Phong, which finished second behind The Cong in last year”s First Division to get a promotion to the league, could have extended their lead just seconds before the break when Oliveira thrust the ball into The Cong”s penalty box for Dang Van Thanh to finish off. Thanh missed.

The visiting team played defensively in the second half, being at a disadvantage with a missing man. The home team was determined to maintain the lead.

The hosts held on until the final whistle, clinching a joyful victory for both home fans and coach Vuong Tien Dung, who previously trained the Ha Noi team.

Elsewhere on January 13, Southern Steel-Sai Gon Port also clinched their second win defeating Song Lam Nghe An 2-0 at home in HCM City, though they levelled with Hai Phong with six points. They have not conceded any goals out of five scored in the last two matches.

Two-time winners Hoang Anh Gia Lai were held in a 1-1 draw at home by Hoa Phat Ha Noi, ranking third with four points.

Dam Phu My Nam Dinh also gained four points after beating SHB Da Nang yesterday at home. It was their first victory over Da Nang in their last five meets against the stubborn rivals from the centre.

Binh Duong are leading the three-point group, which includes Song Lam Nghe An and The Cong, having sealed an away 1-0 win over Khanh Hoa.

The two other Ha Noi sides, Hoa Phat and ACB, both have two points along with Binh Dinh who played to a 1-1 draw with two-time champions Dong Tam Long An yesterday at home.

Dark horses Halida Thanh Hoa, who are in their second season at V-League, held Ha Noi ACB in an away scoreless match at Hang Day stadium to claim their first point.

Khanh Hoa and Da Nang rank at the bottom with no points and two losses

Results of January 13 matches:

1.      Cement Haiphong 2-1 The Cong (Fabiano 7″, Fabiano 11″, Leandro 22″, )

2.      Hoang Anh Gia Lai 1-1 Hoa Phat Hanoi (A Huynh 36″; Van Vinh 63″)

3.      Phu My Nam Dinh 1-0 SHB Da Nang (Van Bien 64″)

4.      Khatoco Khanh Hoa 0-1 Becamex Binh Duong (Anh Duc 84″)

5.      Southern Steel Saigon Port 2-0 Song Lam Nghe An (Martins 63″, Nguyen Quang 87″)

6.      Boss Binh Dinh 1-1 Dong Tam Long An (Thanh Sang 15″, Hoang Lam 82″)

7.      ACB Hanoi 0-0 Halida Thanh Hoa

V-League, January 13

VNS/ Nhan dan