Ha Noi T&T win Super Cup

HA NOI — Defending V-League champions Ha Noi T&T fought back to win the Super Cup at Hang Day Stadium yesterday against Song Lam Nghe An, winning 4-2 on penalties after a 2-2 draw in normal time.

The Hanoian team, who won the V-League in June, were shocked by their long-term rivals Nghe An taking a 2-0 lead in the first minutes of the second half.

Ha Noi T&T boasted a string of stars including goalie Duong Hong Son, captain Brazilian Cristiano Roland, maestro Le Hong Minh and Brazil's Cauce Benicio along with attacking midfielder Cao Sy Cuong, but they failed to dominate the well-organised defence and quick counter-attacks of Nghe An team.

Newly-contracted striker Kavin Bryan threatened the hosts' goalie with his speed and close range shots in the first half, while talisman Argentinean striker Gonzalo Marronkle was marked closely Nghe An's defenders.

After a goalless first half, Edmun Owusu Ansah of Nghe An slotted the ball home from his teammate's 53rd minute cross, beating goalie Hong Son.

Midfielder Nguyen Trong Hoang made it 2-0 for Nghe An after a rapid counterattack in the 69th minute.

T&T pulled a goal back in the 80th minute when Cao Sy Cuong scored for Ha Noi.

In the third minute of injury time, captain Cristiano Roland equalised with a header, sending the final to a penalty shoot-out with Ha Noi winning 4-2.

The Super Cup winners received a VND200 million (US$10,000) cash prize, with the runners-up pocketing VND100 million ($5,000). — VNS

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Minh starts New Year in Taipei

Top man: Vietnamese top badminton player Nguyen Tien Minh plays in the National Sports Games in Da Nang last week. He will be competing in the BWF Super Series Final in Chinese Taipei. — VNS Photo Quang Thang

HA NOI — World No 8 Nguyen Tien Minh kicks off his 2011 at the Victor-BWF Super Series Final in Chinese Taipei on January 5-9.

The winner will take home 9,700 points followed by 8,250 points for the runner up, with losing semi-finalists receiving 6,800 points respectively. Players who fail to qualify for the semi-final round will collect 5,350 points.

The Super Series Final is for the eight highest rated players or pairs in the Super Series Standings, but is limited to a maximum of two players or pairs per member association.

The Finals are the climax of the 12-leg Badminton World Federation (BWF) Super Series circuit.

All eight athletes competing in the tournament's men's singles event will receive US$4,200 in appearance fees. Bonuses will be awarded to the players that progress further.

Minh who is seeded No 6 at the tournament will face difficulties, but it is not beyond the realms of possibility for him to take the $40,000 winner's cash prize.

The finals will feature the doubles Olympic defending champion Lin Dan of China and his world gold medallist team mate Chen Jin, who had limited appearances on the Super Series circuit this year, including failing to qualify for the Finals after they finished 11th and ninth respectively in the Super Series Standings.

In Taipei, Lee Chong Wei, the men's singles World No 1, will be joined by 2010 World Championships silver medallist Taufik Hidayat of Indonesia, European champion Peter Gade from Denmark, Denmark Open champion Jan Jorgensen and the vastly improved Chen Long, heir apparent to three-time world champion Lin Dan.

Thailand's Boonsak Ponsana and China's Du Pengyu round up the cast for the men's singles.

The Vietnamese shuttler, who turned 27 on December 2, falls into the second tier of top competitors along with Ponsana, Du Pengyu and Jorgensen. However, Minh defeated Lee at the Singapore Open in 2009.

The draw was held late yesterday, with the championship to be held at the Hsinchuang Gymnasium. — VNS

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Domestic title winners ready for National Super Cup battle

Safe pair of hands: Ha Noi T&T's national team goalie Duong Hong Son will be a key player for the capital city team when they meet Song Lam Nghe An in the National Super Cup next Sunday. — VNS File Photo

HA NOI — Defending V-League champions Ha Noi T&T are ready for a tough season opener against Song Lam Nghe An in the Super Cup at the Hang Day Stadium next Sunday.

The Hanoian team, who won the premier league in June, will play their long-term rivals and National Cup winners Nghe An in a widely anticipated match before hosting Hoa Phat Ha Noi in the opening game of the national championships on January 22.

T&T boast a string of stars including goalie Duong Hong Son, the 2008 player of the year, and captain Brazilian Cristiano Roland as well as maestro Le Hong Minh and Brazil's Cauce Benicio along with attacking midfielder Cao Sy Cuong.

Top striker Le Cong Vinh has yet to recover from a knee injury, but the team welcomes the services of newly-signed left winger Thach Bao Khanh from Thanh Hoa and striker Iuril from Ukraine.

"We have kept our key players who helped the club clinch the first trophy for a Hanoian team in 12 years. I expect Vinh to be back in action soon," said the club chairman, Nguyen Quoc Hoi.

Team coach Phan Thanh Hung has been watching the 24-year-old Iuril at the on-going Hoa Phat Football tournament before he is due to sign a contract next month.

However, Nghe An are not likely to go down without a fight and are planning on giving Ha Noi T&T a run for their money having just finished an intensive month of pre-season training.

They pose a serious attacking threat with the combination of Raiko Vidovic, Abdulrazak Ekpoki and Mitrovic Dalibor up front.

Nghe An go into the game full of confidence after defeating two-time V-League champions Hoang Anh Gia Lai 1-0 in the National Cup final in August.

They also have the added incentive of winning the Super Cup for a fourth time.

Super Cup glory

The Super Cup winners will receive a VND150 million (US$7,000) cash prize, with the runners-up pocketing VND70 million ($3,300).

Former The Cong, or the Army team, won the first Super Cup in 1999. Nghe An took home the cup in 2000, 2001, and 2002. They were finally beaten by Hoang Anh-Gia Lai, who held the title for the next two years.

Binh Duong also grabbed the title twice.

This is the 12th year that the event will be organised by the Tien Phong (Vanguard) newspaper and the Viet Nam Football Federation. The 584 Group is the cup's sponsors. — VNS

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Ha Noi T&T meet Song Lam Nghe An in Super Cup

HA NOI – Defending V-League champions Ha Noi T&T are ready for a tough season opener against Song Lam Nghe An in the Super Cup at Hang Day Stadium next Sunday.

The Hanoian team, who won the premier league in June, will play their long-term rivals and National Cup winners Nghe An in a widely anticipated match before hosting Hoa Phat Ha Noi in the opening game of the national championships on January 22.

T&T boast a string of stars including goalie Duong Hong Son, the 2008 player of the year and captain Brazilian Cristiano Roland as well as maestro Le Hong Minh and Brazil's Cauce Benicio along with attacking midfielder Cao Sy Cuong.

Top striker Le Cong Vinh has yet to recover from a knee injury, but the team welcomes the services of newly-signed left winger Thach Bao Khanh from Thanh Hoa and striker Iuril from the Ukraine.

"We have kept our key players who helped the club clinch the first trophy for a Hanoian team in 12 years. I expect Vinh to be back in action soon," said the club chairman, Nguyen Quoc Hoi.

Team coach Phan Thanh Hung has been watching the 24-year-old Iuril at the on-going Hoa Phat Football tournament before he is due to sign a contract next month.

However, Nghe An are not likely to go down without a fight and are planning on giving Ha Noi T&T a run for their money having just finished an intensive month of pre-season training.

They pose a serious attacking threat with the combination of Raiko Vidovic, Abdulrazak Ekpoki and Mitrovic Dalibor up front.

Nghe An go into the game full of confidence after defeating two-time V-League champions Hoang Anh Gia Lai 1-0 in the National Cup final in August.

They also have the added incentive of winning the Super Cup for a fourth time.

Super Cup glory

The Super Cup winners will receive a VND150 million (US$7,000) cash prize, with the runners-up pocketing VND70 million ($3,300).

Former The Cong, or the Army team won the first Super Cup in 1999. Nghe An took home the cup in 2000, 2001, and 2002. They were finally beaten by Hoang Anh-Gia Lai, who held the title for the next two years.

Binh Duong also grabbed the title twice.

This is the 12th year that the event will be organised by the Tien Phong (Vanguard) Newspaper and the Viet Nam Football Federation. The 584 Group is the cup's sponsors. -- VNS

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