SHB Da Nang trip up on mission to win league

SHB Da Nang were poised to win the national V-League, but a 4-1 defeat by defending champions Binh Duong at Go Dau stadium yesterday, July 19, threw a hurdle in their path.

Olympian Nguyen Vu Phong scored twice and Nguyen Anh Duc added one to help Binh Duong lead 3-0 in the first half.

Phan Thanh Phuc scored a goal for SHB Da Nang in the 77th minute, but Nkemi netted the ball in the 87th minute to close a convincing win for Binh Duong.

The central city missed a clear chance to take the trophy with a win in the 21st round. Runner-up Song Lam Nghe An also lost to Hai Phong Cement 3-2 yesterday. 

SHB Da Nang missed a clear chance to take the trophy with a win in the 21st round

SHB Da Nang still holds the top spot in the run for the V-League title with 45 points, 12 clear of Song Lam Nghe An.

The central city team, who are hot favourites to win the premiership this year, last won the trophy back in 1992.

If they are successful this year, coach Le Huynh Duc, at 37, would be the youngest coach inViet Nam football history to lead a winning team.

Duc, who had more than 60 national caps and won three Golden Ball awards, will have to wait for the outcome of more games before he knows if his team have won the title.

The Cong, or Army team, were demolished 4-2 by Dong Thap on their home turf at Ha Noi’s Hang Day Stadium yesterday.

In the first leg game, the Army team suffered a bitter loss of 5-0 to Dong Thap.

Hosts Nam Dinh had a 1-1 draw with T&T Ha Noi yesterday, leaving Nam Dinh in the middle of the table.

Military Zone 4 drew HCMCity 2-2 on their home turf in Nghe An province yesterday.

Also yesterday, two-time champions Dong Tam Long An crushed Thanh Hoa 5-1 at Long An stadium.

Due to heavy losses, Thanh Hoa will face the danger of relegation this year, along withHCMCity and Military Zone 4, though the championship has five games to go.