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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Tay Son dynasty antiques on display

More than 400 rare antique items dating back to the Tay Son dynasty
(1778-1802) are on display at an exhibition in HCM City .

The exhibition at the Vietnam History Museum features
terracotta items like tiles, bricks, vases, plates and cups as well as
several official documents including letters and royal decrees signed by
Emperor Quang Trung.

The display also has ancient coins
and weapons including swords, bayonets and a huge cannon found at Thi
Nai Lagoon, considered very rare by collectors. Some spoons and bows
found on the riverbed in the Rach Gam-Xoai Mut area in the Mekong Delta
are also on show.

Organisers said many of the objects are being exhibited for the first time.

Nine museums and historical sites nationwide have lent their antique
collections for this exhibition as have six collectors in HCM City
and Dong Nai province.

Although the dynasty's reign was
short-lived at 32 years, the Tay Son peasant rebellion that crowned it
is a landmark event in Vietnamese history.

Even though the
succeeding Nguyen dynasty forbade the use of materials and the
intellectual heritage of the Tay Son dynasty, destroying many of its
vestiges, the material remains of that period have not disappeared
completely.

The exhibition, titled The Eternal Halo,
celebrates the 240th anniversary of the Tay Son Uprising (1771- 2011)
and 222nd anniversary of Quang Trung's victory over the Chinese Qing
invaders in 1789.

The exhibition at Nguyen Binh Khiem Street in District 1 will remain open until October./.

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26th SEA Games not to have female football

HA NOI – The Indonesia SEA Games Organizing Committee (INASOC) has announced to Olympic committees of Southeast Asian nations that female football will not be played at the 26th SEA Games in Indonesia. INASOC said this issue will be proclaimed officially on February 25-28 in Indonesia.

Exchanging views on this concern, general secretary of Viet Nam Olympic Committee (VOC), Hoang Vinh Giang said that "It's difficult to change INASOC's decision on female football in the 26th SEA Games."

"Few days ago, I received INASOC's announcement on the above matter. INASOC's reason is that they meet difficulties in football grounds. To organise female football event, they need to have two Asian Football Confederation's standard grounds, not including training ones," Giang said.

According to Giang, Indonesian is not good at female football. So INASOC is not eager for this event.

"In principle, the VOC will give its opinions on this problem in the meeting to discuss competing programmes with the hosts and request Indonesia to continue to hold female football. But at my experience, there is little chance to modify INASOC's determination. They have rights to add or reject events in the official competing programme," Giang said.

Meanwhile, the national female football team, SEA Games defending champion, coached by Chinese Chen Yun Fat convened at Ha Noi-based National Sports Training Centre yesterday in preparation for tournaments this year such as Olympic London 2012's qualifying rounds and upcoming SEA Games.

Vice chairman of Viet Nam Football Federation (VFF), Nguyen Lan Trung said "VFF is waiting for the latest decision of INASOC and then adjust the team's training plans. VFF will ask VOC and some football federations in the region to campaign INASOC to set female football in the competing programme of 26th SEA Games." – VNS

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Ten-man Real beat Espanyol to trim Barca's lead

Real Madrid's Emmanuel Adebayor (L) eludes Espanyol's Raul Baena during their Spanish First Division match at Cornella-El Prat stadium, near Barcelona February 13, 2011

Photo: Reuters

Real Madrid recovered from the second-minute dismissal of goalkeeper Iker Casillas to secure a battling 1-0 win at Espanyol on Sunday and cut Barcelona's lead at the top of La Liga to five points.

Barca's record 16-match winning run ended on Saturday when they had to fight back from a goal down to rescue a 1-1 draw at Sporting Gijon and Real took full advantage with a gritty display at a raucous Cornella-El Prat stadium.

Casillas, Spain's World Cup-winning captain, was shown a straight red after bringing down Jose Callejon just outside the area and Real coach Jose Mourinho immediately brought on reserve keeper Antonio Adan to replace Argentina winger Angel Di Maria.

The dismissal lifted the home fans but they were silenced on 24 minutes when Real defender Marcelo cut in from the left wing and squeezed a shot past Carlos Kameni from a tight angle.

January loan signing Emmanuel Adebayor almost snatched a second in the 40th minute but the Togo international's scooped shot bounced on top of the crossbar and out for a goal kick.

Adebayor had chances to make the game safe late in the second half but Kameni pulled off two superb saves, while at the other end Joan Verdu nearly surprised Adan with a deft chip.

Mourinho said Real had done well to beat such strong opponents with a man fewer.

"I am not going to change my tune just because we are two points closer," the Portuguese told a news conference.

"I would like to have a five-point lead over the team in second place."

 

Real Madrid's Marcelo (2nd R) celebrates a goal against Espanyol during their Spanish First Division match at Cornella-El Prat stadium, near Barcelona February 13, 2011

Trezeguet winner

In the earlier kickoff, Villarreal surrendered their grip on third place when they lost 1-0 at Deportivo Coruna.

Defender Alberto Lopo grabbed the only goal in the 60th minute at the Riazor when he popped up unmarked to steer home an Antonio Tomas free kick.

Villarreal's second defeat in a row following last weekend's 1-0 reverse at home to Levante left them in fourth, two points behind Valencia who won 2-1 at Atletico Madrid on Saturday.

Barca have 62 points from 23 matches, with Real on 57. Valencia are 10 points adrift on 47 and Villarreal have 45.

Fifth-placed Athletic Bilbao, who travel to Real Mallorca on Monday, are seven points behind Villarrreal, while Espanyol are sixth, a point behind the Basque club.

In Sunday's other matches, former France striker David Trezeguet struck the winner as promoted Hercules came from a goal down to beat visiting Real Zaragoza 2-1.

Malaga scored two late goals to snatch a 2-2 draw against visiting Getafe, although the Andalusian club, one of the biggest spenders in the January transfer window, remained bottom of the standings.

Promoted Real Sociedad moved up to ninth above Atletico thanks to a 1-0 home win over Osasuna, who had Damia Abella sent off late on for a second yellow card.

Levante, who also came up from the second division at the end of last season, beat Almeria 1-0 to climb to 15th.

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Milan give Serie A priority over Spurs clash

Zlatan Ibrahimovic of AC Milan

If Tuesday's Champions League last-16 first leg at home to Tottenham Hotspur is not going well, AC Milan coach Massimiliano Allegri may look to the players in the stands and think what might have been.

Two league draws in a row for the Serie A leaders were followed by Saturday's 4-0 romp against Parma, with cut-price January recruits Antonio Cassano and Mark van Bommel playing a part in the victory.

The pair, along with former Ajax Amsterdam player Urby Emanuelson, are ineligible to play for the seven-times winners in the Champions League having featured in earlier rounds with Sampdoria and Bayern Munich.

Milan knew this when they signed them but the pursuit of their first Scudetto since 2004 takes precedence over European competition this season.

"We're first in the championship for the first time in years so it's logical to think Milan's objective is the league title," Allegri told reporters.

No joker

Cassano's absence means Allegri is forced to play Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Robinho and Alexandre Pato as his front three, with no 'joker' on the bench to allow the coach to shuffle the pack if goals are not forthcoming.

Midfielders Andrea Pirlo and Massimo Ambrosini miss out due to injury and the combative Van Bommel could at least have patrolled the area in front of the back four even if pinging 60-metre Pirlo-esque passes is not his strong point.

Spurs, preparing for the biggest game in their first Champions League campaign, have problems too with left winger Gareth Bale missing because of a back injury and two more creative influences doubtful.

Bale lit up the San Siro with a hat-trick in the 4-3 defeat at holders Inter Milan in the group stage and was relishing a return although with AC Milan among the clubs casting an eye, his absence may be a blessing in disguise if Spurs want to keep him.

Rafael van der Vaart and Luka Modric are also key pieces in manager Harry Redknapp's jigsaw but missed the 2-1 win at Sunderland in the Premier League on Saturday.

"They're struggling at the moment. Luka's had his appendix operation and has just started jogging. Rafa's got a calf strain," said Redknapp who has Jermaine Jenas suspended.

"Hopefully they won't be too long. It's difficult to know."

Probable teams:

AC Milan: 32-Christian Abbiati; 17-Massimo Oddo, 33-Thiago Silva, 13-Alessandro Nesta, 77-Luca Antonini; 8-Gennaro Gattuso, 16-Mathieu Flamini, 10-Clarence Seedorf; 70-Robinho; 11-Zlatan Ibrahimovic, 7-Alexandre Pato

Tottenham Hotspur: 1-Heurelho Gomes; 22-Vedran Corluka, 20-Michael Dawson, 13-William Gallas, 32-Benoit Assou-Ekotto; 7-Aaron Lennon, 12-Wilson Palacios, 40-Steven Pienaar, 21-Niko Kranjcar; 15-Peter Crouch, 18-Jermain Defoe

Referee: Stephane Lannoy (France)

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Navibank cash in on Cup win

Nerves of steel: Navibank Sai Gon players celebrate after their penalty shootout victory over Becamex Binh Duong. Navibank won 10-9 to book a semi-final berth in the National Cup which will be held on August 10. — VNA/VNS Photo

HA NOI — Navibank Sai Gon defeated Becamex Binh Duong 10-9 after a penalty shootout on Saturday to secure a berth in the National Cup semi-finals.

Coach Mai Duc Chung of Navibank Sai Gon had to play in defence for his team due to a number of injuries and suspensions.

The first half saw Binh Duong dominate on home turf with foreign trio Kubheka Philani, Leandro Da Luz and Joseph Obina all testing Navibank goalie Phan Van Santos. Philani opened the scoring in the 26th minute.

However, Navibank seemed to wake up in the second half and secured an equaliser in the 70th minute through Elokan Endene who stole past the Binh Duong defence to score.

Coach Nunes R. Manuel of Binh Duong made several substitutions to try and grab a late winner and ended the match playing four up front, but to no avail.

In the shootout, Navibank's players all converted there spot kicks successfully while Leandro, who signed for Binh Duong as part of a US$700,000 transfer, missed.

"I'm really satisfied with the result and the way my players did today. We were missing several key members of our team and Binh Duong are very strong. It is a big success which will encourage us for the rest of the season but we still need more time to grow, said Chung.

His team will meet Thanh Hoa in the semi-finals. Thanh Hoa also made it to the final four after beating Ninh Binh 3-1 in a penalty shootout. Their match finished 1-1 after 90 minutes.

In other games, former V-League champions Song lam Nghe An trounced Sai Gon Xuan Thanh 4-2 and are to play Hoang Anh Gia Lai in the next round on August 10.

Hoang Anh Gia Lai earlier won 3-1 against Khatoco Khanh Hoa in the fourth quarter-final match in Nha Trang. — VNS

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Thien notches doubles victory in New Zealand ITF championship

Vietnamese teenager Nguyen Hoang Thien and his partner Jack Schipanski of Australia have won the men's doubles event at the Tennis Central U18 ITF Summer Championship in New Zealand.

Thien and Schipanski defeated Mouslay Bradley-Li Tu of Australia 6-3, 6-0 in around 60 minutes on Friday.

Later in the tournament, Thien lost 3-6, 3-6 to his partner in the men's singles semi-finals.

It is the third time in a year that Thien has triumphed in an U18 tournament. The two previous occasions were in Viet Nam.

His victory was a step towards breaking into the top 200 players in the world, a feat he plans to achieve this year.

Thien was the first Vietnamese player to be invited to play in the Australian Open.

Liem on track to defend Moscow championship crown

International Grand Master (IGM) Le Quang Liem is sitting at the top of the Russian Aeroflot Chess Festival after his first draw on Saturday in Moscow.

Liem won his first four games but could only manage to tie with host rival GM Evgeny Tomashevsky in his fifth round match.

The Vietnamese star is right on track to defending his title after defeating tournament favourite and former world champion Gata Kamsky of the US on Friday.

Liem, who is attempting to become the first Vietnamese super IGM this year, will next face GM Rustam Kasimdzhanov of Uzbekistan who is currently in fourth position.

The tournament will conclude on Saturday with a prize of US$20,000 going to the winner. — VNS

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