National Cup semifinalists through

HCMC –Saturday’s victors, Thanh Hoa, Song Lam Nghe An, Hoang Anh Gia Lai and Navibank Saigon reached the semifinals of Vietnam’s 2011 National Football Cup.

Top Vietnamese League team, Song Lam Nghe An, beat first division team, Saigon Xuan Thanh, 4-2 in the central city of Vinh. Saigon Xuan Thanh started the game with Huynh Kesley, Lucas,  Nguyen Dinh Luat and Nguyen Thanh Trung in their line-up.

The HCMC-based team put pressure on Song Lam’s defensive line from the beginning resulting in a Huynh Kesley goal in the 10th minute with a penalty kick. Ngoc Anh leveled the score for Song Lam just two minutes later.

Striker Nguyen Duy Quang scored for the visitors in the 19th minute before Thierry leveled for the home side in the 62nd minute. Nguyen Quang Tinh and Kavin made sure Song Lam Nghe An advanced to the semifinals with two goals in the 67th and 68th minutes.     

Hoang Anh Gia Lai gained another ticket on the day after beating Khatoco Khanh Hoa 3-1 in the central coast city of Nha Trang. Nguyen Tang Tuan netted two goals for the visitors in the second and 30th minutes and Le Van Truong scored one goal in the 19th minute while Nguyen Manh Tu scored the only goal for the home side in the 43rd minute.

On the same day, Thanh Hoa secured the third ticket to the semifinals after eliminating XM The Vissai Ninh Binh 3-1 in a penalty shootout. The game was locked 1-1 at the end of official time. Dinh Hoang Max had opened for The Vissai Ninh Binh in the 50th minute and Trinh Quang Vinh then leveled for Thanh Hoa just seven minutes later.    

Navibank Saigon secured the last semifinal ticket as they beat Becamex Binh Duong 10-9 in a penalty shootout to decide the 1-1 draw. Hoang Anh Gia Lai will play Song Lam Nghe An on August 10 in Pleiku City, and Thanh Hoa will meet Navibank Saigon on the same day in HCMC.

The final will be held in the northern province of Ninh Binh on August 27.

Vietnam’s National Football Cup 2011 drew 27 teams from the country’s V-League and First Division, competing in a knock-out format.

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Hanoi T&T win Super Cup 2011 in penalty shootout

HCMC – Hanoi T&T won the Super Cup for the first time after beating Song Lam Nghe An 4-2 in a penalty shootout at Hang Day Stadium in Hanoi yesterday, picking up VND150 million in cash.

They drew 2-2 in the official time, Edmun Owusu and Nguyen Trong Hoang scored for Song Lam Nghe An in the 53rd and 69th minutes but Cao Sy Cuong and Cristiano Roland leveled the score for the home side in the 81st minute and injury time.

Backed by thousands of spectators, the home team totally controlled the first half while Song Lam Nghe An played defensively and relied on rare counter attacks.

Both sides created scoring chances but the score was goalless upon the referee’s whistle at the end of the half.

In the second half, Song Lam placed more attacks on their opponent defenders in search for a goal and Edmun Owusu opened for the National Cup winners in the 53rd minute.

Hanoi T&T bounced back after the goal and their players dominated the ball possession but the home side forwards squandered chances.

Midfielder Nguyen Trong Hoang doubled for the visitors in the 69th minute. However, Cao Sy Cuong narrowed the score for Hanoi T&T in the 81st minute before Cristiano Roland leveled the score at 2-2 in the injury time.

In the shoot-out, Hanoi T&T goalkeeper Nguyen Duc Thang made a brilliant save from Nguyen Van Quyet’s kick to be the hero for his team while Tran Dinh Dong and  Nguyen Trong Hoang failed to score in their penalty shootouts for Song Lam Nghe An.

The runners up received VND70 million in cash. 

To mark the start of the football season, the Super Cup is held every year between the previous season’s National Football Championship winner and the winner of the National Cup.

Hanoi T&T won the premier league in June while Song Lam Nghe An defeated two-time V-League champions Hoang Anh Gia Lai 1-0 in the National Cup final in August.

Last year, National Cup winners Lam Son Thanh Hoa won the Super Cup after defeating V-League champions SHB Danang 4-3 in a penalty shoot-out at Ninh Binh Stadium in northern Ninh Binh Province. The Super Cup was organized for the first time in 1998.

It is the 12th year that the event has been organized by Tien Phong (Vanguard) newspaper and the Vietnam Football Federation. The 584 Group is the cup’s sponsors.

The National Cup 2011 began on Saturday. The tournament has attracted 27 teams from the premier V-League and the First Division, competing in knock-out format.

The Vietnam League will open on February 22 and the First Division Tournament will begin two days earlier. The two that are most important tournaments of Vietnamese football will close on August 21 and 20, respectively.

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Japanese golfer wins Song Be Club Championship

Jotani Kazuya (L) from Japan collects the trophy after winning the Song Be Club Championship 2010 golf tournament on the weekend - Photo: Courtesy of Song Be Golf Resort

HCMC – A Japanese golfer, Jotani Kazuya, took the trophy at the Song Be Club Championship 2010 golf tournament in the southern province of Binh Duong over the weekend.

The annual friendship tournament attracted about 240 golfers, some from Vietnam but many expatriates from countries and territories including Singapore, Taiwan, Japan, Korean, Holland, Malaysian and the host Vietnam.

There were three divisions - A for club champion, B for intermediate champion and L for ladies.

This year, the organizers introduced the first Junior Championship for members' children aged 7 - 14 years old to help develop the game.

Kazuya won with a gross score of 162 with local golfer and defending champion, Pham Minh Hong, coming second.

Nguyen Thi Ngoc Dung continued to dominate the ladies championship this year, with Hoang Thi Hang in second place.

With a gross score of 92, Tran Phuoc Luan was the first champion in the new Junior Division.

In addition, the organizer gave prizes for winners of Best Nett and Nearest to Pin and Callaway.

This is the 16th club champion tournament that Song Be Golf Resort has organized.

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Season ends with Song Lam Nghe An National Cup win

Dinh Dong of Song Lam Nghe An fights for the ball with Van Nhien of Hoang Anh Gia Lai (top) during their V-League football match at Thong Nhat Stadium in HCMC on Saturday - Photo: Ba Chau

HCMC –Song Lam Nghe An won the National Cup 2010 after defeating two-time V-League champions Hoang Anh Gia Lai 1-0 at HCMC’s Thong Nhat Stadium on Saturday.

Hoang Anh Gia Lai were still confident of a win even though the Central Highlands-based team started the game without left winger Le Van Truong, midfielder Nguyen Thai Duong and goalkeeper Shihavy. Brazilian strikers Evaldo Goncalves and Tiago De Paula, and Thai-born midfielders Nirut Surasiang and Sakda Joemdee, however, played from the kickoff.

Central-based Song Lam Nghe An, who won the cup twice in 2001 and 2002, were also confident with 2003 Golden Ball award winner Pham Van Quyen and national defender Nguyen Huy Hoang in their line-up.

Song Lam Nghe An strengthened their line-up earlier this year by signing Nigerian Abdulrazak Ekpoki and newly naturalized defender Helio, however, Bosnian Rajko Vidovic, who has scored 11 goals this season, was absent as he could not recover from his knee injury in time.

Both teams put pressure on in the first minutes, aiming to gain victory but the game got off to a wet start because of heavy rains. The player’s skills were affected by the rain and they did not control the ball.

With good ball possession, Song Lam Nghe An forwarders dominated the game and they nearly scored when striker Pham Van Quyen hit the post. Abdulrazak Ekpoki opened for Song Lam with a header in the 24th minute.

The second half was marred by heavy rain, Hoang Anh Gia Lai placed pressure on Song Lam’s defending line while Song Lam played defensively and relied on rare counter attacks to ensure their victory.

Despite strong attacks, Hoang Anh players created some scoring chances in the second half, but left the score at 1-0. Abdulrazak Ekpoki failed to score for Song Lam as his kick touched cross bar in the 82nd minute.

Hoang Anh Gia Lai beat SHB Danang 4-2 in a penalty shootout in the semifinal match while Song Lam Nghe An crushed Nam Dinh 3-0 in the second semifinal match in the National Cup 2010.

Song Lam Nghe An won the trophy and VND350 million (US$18,000). SHB Danang and Nam Dinh both ranked third.   

Vietnam’s National Football Cup 2010 drew 26 teams including 14 teams from the country’s V-League and 12 teams from First Division.

The National Cup’s final marked the end of Vietnam’s 2009-2010 football season. The new season will begin in December with the Super Cup match when V-League champions Hanoi T&T will meet National Cup winners Song Lam Nghe An.

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