Viet Nam News
Football
HA NOI — All eyes will be clearly focused on Hang Day Stadium Saturday as Ha Noi FC look to strengthen their position at the top of V.League 1.
Hoping to put a dent in their title challenge will be FLC Thanh Hoa who currently sit in fifth place in the table.
Although both have strong teams, many believe the home side’s mix of youth and experience will be too much for Thanh Hoa.
With six wins and two draws this season, Ha Noi are yet to taste defeat in the league after eight games and already the gap at the top is six points with Quang Ninh Coal their closest challengers.
Saturday’s visitors to Ha Noi have never lifted the title, and came closest last season finishing runner’s up.
The home team has won the national premier league three times in 2010, 2013 and 2016. Last season they finished in third, a place behind tomorrow’s opposition.
Ha Noi Chu Dinh Nghiem believes the team he faces tomorrow are potential challengers for the top prize.
“In recent years, Thanh Hoa have invested strongly with good rookies such as midfielders Vu Minh Tuan, Nguyen Minh Tung and Nguyen Xuan Thanh,” he said.
“They are arch rivals for the title of this year’s football season. It is not easy to beat them.”
The 3-1 win against Quang Ninh Coal last week will be a driving force for Thanh Hoa in the upcoming game. That was the first win of coach Nguyen Duc Thang after his recent appointment,.
Following this win, Thanh Hoa rushed to train hard without days off.
“We want our players have good manners to prepare for the match with Ha Noi. Our rival have undefeated matches, so of course, they are very strong,” said Thang.
Thang used to be coach of Ha Noi’s junior players including Nguyen Quang Hai, Doan Van Hau and Nguyen Thanh Chung who are in the national U23 team , so he knows Ha Noi’s strengths and weaknesses.
But Hang Day Stadium has not been a happy hunting ground for the visitors as they’ve not won there since 2012.
Another match also drawing the attention of fans and media nationwide is the fight between Hoang Anh Gia Lai (HAGL) and Song Lam Nghe An (SLNA) at Pleiku Stadium in Gia Lai Province.
In the match, HAGL tied 2-2 with Can Tho to rank ninth in the standings, while SLNA also drew 1-1 with defending champions Quang Nam.
Three points on Saturday is vital for both teams who are in desperate need to climb out of the drop zone.
Elsewhere, Quang Nam will face Nam Dinh at Tam Ky Stadium and Hai Phong will take on Sanna Khanh Hoa at Lach Tray Stadium.
Meanwhile today, SHB Da Nang will play Binh Duong, Sai Gon meet Can Tho and Quang Ninh face HCM City.
Yesterday, HCM City also announced their new chairman Nguyen Huu Thang who was former head coach of Vietnamese national team to replace acting chairman Le Cong Vinh. — VNS