SHB Da Nang look set to win V-League

The race for the V-League championship title seemed over as Da Nang strongly dominated the league with their 14th victory yesterday, July 12 on home turf against Dong Tam Long An. 

Hoang Anh Gia Lai drew Military Zone 4 1-1. (Photo: VNN)

Coach Le Huynh Duc and his players can make their wish lists for items to help them celebrate their championship win despite the six remaining rounds left to play this season.

Their power has been proven and no team can stop their ascent, as they have alone taken the lead of the pack since the sixth round on March 22.

Yesterday, Da Nang trounced former champion Long An 4-0 under heavy rains.

At Ha Noi’s Hang Day stadium, Dong Thap posed no challenge to host T&T Ha Noi, who beat their visitors 5-2 with two goals each by Le Cong Vinh and Agostinho.

Vinh, who was voted the best player in June, opened the score just six minutes into the game from the left wing with a play into the box and then into the far corner of the net.

He doubled his efforts in the 31st minute with a close tap, his 12th goal of the season.

Agostinho’s two goals were netted at the 81st minute and in extra-time.

Endene landed a penalty shot at the 86th minute.

Dong Thap made their two goals early in the second half but it was all they were able to pull out before total collapse to the host, who played a perfect game yesterday.

The great victory was a strong push for T&T, who jumped from eighth to third place in the rankings with 30 points. It was a hard-to-believe result for the team, who was one of three teams lying at the bottom of the table in early June.

Hai Phong Cement also enjoyed a big win yesterday on away turf by beating Thanh Hoa 4-2.

Thanh Hoa, who are one of the candidates for relegation to the First Division next season, took full advantage of a free kick in the 31st minute to score the opening goal.

Van Tuan shot a high kick over Hai Phong’s wall that hit the ground and bounced into the net when keeper Dang Tuan Diep couldn’t reach it.

Thanh Hoa fans cheered in happiness at the positive sign that their team could evade their precarious position.

Hai Phong needed 20 minutes to level the score in a one-on-one situation between Elenildo and Thanh Hoa’s keeper. Elenildo won the challenge with a close range tap.

He later raised Hai Phong to 2-1 in the second half. Defender Nguyen Minh Duc scored his own goal a few seconds later in an attempt to block a shot by Thanh Hoa’s goalie in the 66th.

Dang Van Thanh stopped all sounds and screams of celebration made by the host fans with another goal one minute later.

Near the end of regulation time, Captain Leandro tied the game with a penalty shot.

Thanh Hoa’s 12th loss sunk them even deeper into troubled territory. Their only chance is to win all of the remaining six games of the season, which would be an incredible feat, as they will face Dong Tam Long An, Hoang Anh Gia Lai and Becamex Binh Duong, all national powerhouses.

In other matches yesterday, The Cong beat HCMCity 1-0 with a goal in the last minute. Hoang Anh Gia Lai drew Military Zone 4 1-1. Khanh Hoa and Nam Dinh also shared one point each after a 1-all draw.

In Saturday’s earliest match, defending champion Binh Duong were crushed 0-1 to a penalty by former national champion Pham Van Quyen, whose goal on June 7 into Military Zone 4’s earned him the best goal of the month.

VNN/VNS