V-League 2006: Binh Duong go top, defending champions still bottom

Binh Duong shared the top position in the V-League table with PISICO Binh Dinh after the second round of the national championship/V-League while defending champions Dong Tam Long An are still at the bottom with only one point.

Binh Duong still ocuppy the top spot of the table despite being held to a goalless draw at home by Southern Steel Saigon Port, who did not play in the first round of the matches. Binh Duong played attacking football with three forwards Amaobi, Philani and Anh Duc. The hosts created some scoring opportunities but Amaobi, Philani and Anh Duc failed to net.

After the break, Binh Duong kept their heavy pressure on their visitors” defence but they could not convert their opportunities. After two games, Binh Duong have four points, scoring one goal.

PISICO Binh Dinh, who shared the top spot with Binh Duong with the same points and goal diference, were held to a 0-0 draw by their hosts Hoa Phat Hanoi in a lacklusture game.

Hoang Anh Gia Lai, who were reported to have signed Thai star Thonglao, gained a crucial 2-0 victory at home over M.H. Haphong with goals by Kiatisuk and Kesley Alves. Thai striker Kiatisuk put the hosts in front just 15 seconds after kick off. Van Dan gained the possession from a visiting player and fed Kiatisuk, who ran past two M.H.Haiphong defenders before finding the net. Going 1-0 down, Mitsustar Haiphong played some attacking football against their hosts. Three foreign players Tostao, Julien and Abdallaa and Ngoc Thanh created some scoring opportunities but they were denied by excellent goalkeeper Quoc Tuan. Five minutes from full time, Kesley, who was not on his top form, sealed a 2-0 victory for the hosts. Kiatisuk was the provider. After the victory, Hoang Anh Gia Lai moved up to third place in the table. In the opening round, Hoang Anh Gia Lai lost 1-0 to their troubled hosts Da Nang.

Da Nang looked the shadow of the team, who beat Hoang Anh Gia Lai, one of the possible favourites of the V-League, at home in the first round. The hosts were out-of-sort going down to a 2-1 defeat to Mikado Nam Dinh. The visitors outplayed their hosts and took the lead after 18 minutes. The hosts levelled the score in the 30th minute with Almeida finishing off Minh Duc”s freekick from the left flank. After the break, Da Nang brought on Huynh Duc, Luiz Carlos and Quang Tuan to replace Thanh Phuc and Thanh Thong. The hosts wasted two golden opportunities when Huynh Duc and Quang Tuan failed to score in the 74th and 81st minutes, respectively. Trong Loc sealed the visitors” victory in the final minute. After Aloui was denied by the woodwork, Trong Loc netted.

Other results are as follows: Dong Tam Long An earned their first point after drawing 0-0 with PJICO Song Lam Nghe An and Khatoco Khanh Hoa beat Pomina Steel Tien Giang 1-0.

Nhan Dan