Ninth round of V-League: Song Lam Nghe An rise to second place

The ninth round V-League witnessed the impressive progress of Song Lam Nghe An, securing their fourth consecutive win and jumping to the second place. 

Song Lam Nghe An are now in good form

Song Lam Nghe An started their current run following the game with Haiphong. The 0-0 draw helped Song Lam Nghe An falling into the relegation zone. Their winning streak includes wins over Nam Dinh, Dong Tam Long An, Hoa Phat Hanoi and ACB Hanoi.

At the end of 2007, they remained in the relegation zone but now have risen to the second place. On March 16, Song Lam Nghe An had their fourth straight win after beating ACB Hanoi 2-0 at home. The significant progress of Song Lam Nghe An means that competition for the top position will be fierce in the weeks to come.

Meanwhile, securing an unexpected 1-1 draw with Dong Tam Long An at home, Haiphong still occupied the top position as leaders Southern Steel Saigon Port lost in Pleiku.

Hosts Haiphong quickly controlled the match from the beginning with the support of thousands of fans. They made a solid start with waves of attacks in the penalty box and had several good chances.

The home side’s efforts were rewarded with a goal two minutes before the break. Thanh broke through the left wing, when he was stopped illegally by a Long An defender in the box, givingHaiphong a penalty. Leandro de Oliveira Daluz made no mistake with the penalty.

Haiphong started their second half overly confident in that resulted in slapdash defending. Two-time champions Dong Tam Long An launched counter-attacks. Host defender Mai Ngoc Quang failed to block a pass from Antonio Carlos to half-back Phan Quy Hoang Lam who easily cruised past another defender to score, thus equalising just five minutes into the second half.

Haiphong pushed forward with more attacks in an attempt to pocket all three points. However, Dong Tam Long An succeeded absorbing the pressure from Haiphong until the end of the match.

With 16 points after nine rounds, Haiphong replaced SaigonPort in the top spot after the southern team lost 2-3 to Hoang Anh Gia Lai.

With this loss, SaigonPort fell to fourth place due to their goal difference but remain on the same points as the leaders Haiphong.

Hoang Anh Gia Lai jumped to sixth place with 14 points while Khanh Hoa who drew 2-2 with the bottome-placed Binh Dinh occupied the fifth place.

In the other match, Da Nang missed their second victory in a row when they let The Cong equalise 1-1 in the last minute.