Saigon Xuan Thanh, Binh Dinh top First Division after three games
| Navibank Saigon’s Almeida (L) celebrates his goal against Thanh Hoa with teammate Endene during their V-League match at Thong Nhat Stadium on Saturday - Photo Ba Chau |
Song Lam started without Hoang Helio and captain Nguyen Huy Hoang in their line-up while Hoa Phat Hanoi, with their strongest players, dominated the game from the beginning and Timothy Anjembe opened for the visitors in the 12th minute.
The visiting side continuously attacked their opponents in the first half, however, Timothy, Thanh Trung and Kisekka missed all scoring chances, leaving the first half ended 1-0.
Song Lam Nghe An put pressure on Hoa Phat’s defending line in the second half and Fagan Andre Diego helped the home side to level in 52nd minute.
The game went to controversy in the 58th minute as Nguyen Ngoc Anh was sent off after receiving the second yellow card while Hoa Phat Hanoi had to play with 9 men when Nguyen Ngoc Tu and Timothy Anjembe were also sent off by the red cards in the chaotic case.
Kavin Eltroy Bryan scored the goal in the 85th minute, sealing a 2-1 victory for Song Lam Nghe An.
However, the clash between SHB Danang and defending champions Hanoi T&T and Becamex Binh Duong and Khatoco Khanh Hoa in the round attracted much attention from the public as the four teams are strong favorites to win the league title.
The four teams wanted a victory to consolidate their position in the ranking table. Moreover, Binh Duong, SHB Danang, Hanoi T&T and Dong Tam Tiles also stand neck-and-neck in the ranking table.
The national football league resumed play on Friday after a three-week Tet holiday with a match between defending champions Hanoi T&T and SHB Danang in the capital city.
The defending champions dominated the game and created several chances to score, however, their players missed all chances. Danang missed the real chance to open the score when Hernandez’s powerful strike was saved by goalie Duong Hong Son in the first half.
After the break, Hanoi T&T continued to control the ball, but they missed several chances to score. Danang surprisingly took the lead in the 65th minute when Phan Thanh Hung scored the opener.
Vietnamese top striker Le Cong Vinh who suffered an injury for 10 months came off the bench in the 80th minute and the match became more exciting. However, Gaston Merlo scored the second goal in injury time, giving a 2-0 victory for Danang.
Meanwhile, Becamex Binh Duong suffered a 1-3 loss to Khatoco Khanh Hoa in their home town to drop to ninth position with four points from one win, one draw and one loss. Khatoco Khanh Hoa climbed to third position with six points.
With the victory, Song Lam Nghe An snatched the top of the V-League from Hanoi T&T with seven points from two wins and one draw while Hoa Phat Hanoi dropped to 10th with three points from three games.
SHB Danang, Khatoco Khanh Hoa and Hanoi T&T now have six points each but SHB Danang moved to the second thanks to goal difference
Saturday’s other games, XM The Vissai Ninh Binh lost 1-2 to Dong Tam Long An Tiles in the northern province of Ninh Binh, Navibank Saigon defeated Thanh Hoa 3-1 at Thong Nhat Stadium, Vicem Haiphong tied 1-1 with Dong Thap at Lach Tray Stadium in Haiphong.
Hanoi ACB suffered the third loss in the season when the promoted team lost 1-3 to Hoang Anh Gia Lai in their home ground at Hang Day Stadium. The bottom-placed Hanoi ACB have no point after three games.
* SQC Binh Dinh and Saigon Xuan Thanh still remained in the top place of Vietnam’s First Division 2011 after beating their opponents in the third round over the weekend, while the bottom-placed Hanoi had only one point after three games.
Saigon Xuan Thanh beat An Giang 2-0 at Thong Nhat Stadium in the late game on Sunday. Nguyen Ngoc Thanh and Oloya Moses scored for their team in the 23rd and 76th minutes.
Meanwhile, Binh Dinh beat Hanoi 1-1 in the central coast city of Qui Nhon on Friday.
Saigon Xuan Thanh and Binh Dinh secured nine points from three wins each, but the HCMC-based team took the lead thanks the goal difference, leaving them two points clear of rival Kienlongbank KG, who beat Quang Nam 2-0 in the central city of Tam Ky.
In other games on Friday, Can Tho tied goalless with Nam Dinh in the Mekong Delta city of Can Tho, Huda Hue crushed TDC Binh Duong 3-0 at Tu Do Stadium, Tay Ninh defeated Quang Ninh Coal 1-0 in the southern province of Tay Ninh and HCMC Club did the same with Dong Nai at Thong Nhat Stadium.
Dong Nai will face Nghe An in the final match of the 2010 National U.21 football competition after a 1-0 win over Binh Dinh in Gia Lai on Friday.