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| Strong showing: It took Van Toan (right) just two minutes to open the scoring, setting the tone for the game. — Photo tuoitre.vn |
Viet Nam News
HA NOI — Hoang Anh Gia Lai (HAGL) thrashed Quang Ninh Coal 4-0 in the 16th round of the V-League yesterday.
The team from Gia Lai also beat Quang Ninh Coal 4-2 in Pleiku last season, and 5-0 in the National Cup 2018.
HAGL defender Vu Van Thanh was suspended for the game after picking up three yellow cards in previous matches, while there were only two naturalized players on the substitute’s bench.
It took Van Toan just two minutes to open the scoring, setting the tone for the game, and things got worse for Quang Ninh Coal in the 26th minute when the team was sent off for a rough challenge from behind on Van Toan that resulted in a free kick. Minh Vuong stepped up to take it, but smashed his chance against the crossbar.
HAGL were not to be denied, and a pass from unmarked striker Cong Phuong from the right wing allowed Van Toan to add his second on 40 minutes, and it was 3-0 before half time when striker Cong Phuong avoided Quang Ninh Coal defence to slide home.
In the second half, HAGL were content to keep hold of the ball, and coach Duong Minh Ninh decided to replace goalscorer Van Toan with striker Thanh Tung with 67 minutes gone.
To their credit, Quang Ninh Coal didn’t stop fighting, hitting the crossbar in the 78th minute with a shot from Nghiem Xuan Tu.
But it was substitute Thanh Tung who had the final say, adding a fourth goal in the 93rd minute.
Elsewhere yesterday, Thanh Hoa beat Hai Phong 2-0, while Sanna Khanh Hoa tied with Bicamex Binh Duong 1-1. — VNS
OVietnam