Dong Thap to play in V-League

Former national team striker Nguyen Quy Suu scored the only goal in the play-off against Boss Binh Dinh at Thong Nhat Stadium yesterday, to advance Rubber Dong Thap from First Division to V-League next year.

Losers Boss Binh Dinh, who placed third-to-last in the V-League last week, faced a tough play-off against the third-ranked Dong Thap from First Division.

The central Binh Dinh played well at the beginning, and Thanh Tai was active on the left wing. Van Cuong of Dong Thap also played effectively on the left wing. Dong Thap had a few goal-scoring chances in the first half but failed to convert. 

After the break, Nguyen Quy Suu scored out of nowhere for Dong Thap in the 63rd minute.

Binh Dinh tried their best to level the score, but Do Thanh Sang fouled Dong Thap’s goalie and received the yellow card.

In the 65th minute, Cruz De S. Jorge Luiz got off a shot, but it hit the cross bar.

Binh Dinh had a chance six minutes later, when Cruz crossed the ball to Thanh Sang, who shot wide of the goal.

Despite the last-ditch attempt by Binh Dinh in the final minutes, they couldn’t come through. With this loss, Binh Dinh was relegated out of V-League and lost the VND1.5 billion (US$93,000) prize money.

Next year, along with First Division champions Military Zone 4, runners-up Ha Noi T&T, Dong Thap will play in the V-League.