V-League round 15: Disappointed hosts lose

Except for Midako Nam Dinh, who drew 0-0 with leaders Da Nang, all the other host teams lost in round 15 of the national championship/V-League. Dong Tam Long An broke a jinx in Vinh by beating their ten men hosts PJICO Song Lam Nghe An 2-0. Elsewhere in Haiphong, Hoang Anh Gia Lai continued a winning streak with a 1-0 victory.

Dong Tam Long An travelled to Vinh, where they failed to get a point in the last two years. However, the champions took a numerical advantage for 35 minutes to break the hoodoo with two goals by Shafiwu and Antonio Carlos after Huy Hoang was sent off in the 55th minute.

In the first half, hosts PJICO Song Lam Nghe An had more possession time but failed to trouble the visitors” defence. Meanwhile, the visitors were very sharp in their counter attacks. In the 16th minute, Antonio forced goalkeeper Duong Hong Son worked hard to block his powerful strike. The only chance of the hosts was in the final minute before half-time, but Oliveira, unmarked, failed to beat goalkeeper Santos.

Ten minutes into the second half, captain centreback Huy Hoang was red carded after a serious foul against Thanh Truc. In the 72nd minute, Calisto”s men converted their numerical advantage into a lead. Tuan Phong made a neat pass for Shafiwu to open the scoring. Five minutes later, Hai Nam lost possession to Tai Em, who set up Antonio to double the lead. The victory put champions on seventh in the table with six points behind leaders Da Nang, who gained only one point in Nam Dinh.

Tired Da Nang, who returned home from China two days ahead of the clash against Midako Nam Dinh, failed to avenge their 2-1 home defeat as they were held to a 0-0 draw. The two sides had their opportunities but failed to score. In the first minute, Da Nang”s forward wasted a good opportunity in a one-on-one situation with host goalkeeper Bui Quang Huy. The hosts replied immediately with two attempts by Trong Loc and Duc Duong but they failed to beat Quang Huy”s deputy Duc Cuong in the national team. In the 42nd minute, Duc Duong”s powerful from outside the box strike went wide by centimetres. In the second half, substitute Da Silva of Da Nang headed over the bar from just six yards. Da Nang continue on top of the table but they are now just three points ahead of HN.ACB, who did not play in round 15 and have one game in hand.  

In Haiphong, twice-champions Hoang Anh Gia Lai extended their winning streak to two games with a 1-0 victory over their hosts Mitsustar Haier Haiphong. The winner was scored by last season”s top scorer Kesley Alves in the 12th minute.

The hosts were missing suspended Tostao and injured Van Thanh in their forward line. Coach Nguyen Van Dung lined up Duc Cuong to partner Julien but out-of-sort Duc Cuong failed to help the home side. In the meantime, the visitors, whose morale was high after a 3-2 victory over leaders Da Nang a week ago, played very well. Their striker Kesley Alves was a bit lucky with his freekick deflected a host defender before finding the net. The visiting team created some more opportunities but failed to extend the lead. The victory helped Hoang Anh Gia Lai joined the top five with six points behind Da Nang.

In Ho Chi Minh City, Binh Duong crushed their hosts Southern Steel Saigon Port 4-2. The visiting side opened the scoring in the tenth minute as captain Truong Giang”s cross deflected host captain centreback Nguyen Chuong before finding the net.

In the second half, Binh Duong scored three more goals by Philani in the 51st and 66th minutes and Abbey in the 70th minute, before Ho Van Loi and Elenido De Jesus scoring twice in the 79th and 84th minutes, respectively. Binh Duong are now sixth in the table with 19 points.

In another match, hosts PISICO Binh Dinh had to paid the price for two mistakes by captain goalkeeper Tran Minh Quang as they lost 3-1 to struggling Hoa Phat Hanoi. In the eighth minute, discovering that Minh Quang was wrongly positioned, Hong Viet lobbed the ball into the net. Five minutes into second half, Minh Quang”s wrong decision to advance early cost the hosts the second goal. In the 66th minute, Lino and Sorayoot played one-two and pulled back a goal. The victory helped Hoa Phat Hanoi escaped the danger zone, giving their last week”s position to Southern Steel Saigon Port.

However, the hosts conceded another goal. In the 72nd minute, Van Vinh was brought down in the box and Da Silva made no mistake from converting his spot kick.

In Tien Giang, hosts Pomina Steel Tien Giang lost 2-0 to Khatoco Khanh Hoa with two goals scored by Fexi Aboagye and Thien Hao in the 21st and 82nd minutes, respectively. After the defeat, Pomina Steel Tien Giang continued to stay at bottom. If they continue their disappointing run, they may return to Division 1 in the end of the season.

(NhanDan)