Viet Nam News
HA NOI — Quang Nam had their first V.League loss of the season, losing 0-2 to Hai Phong in the eighth round match yesterday.
Earlier, they played seven matches, with three wins and four draws. The results pushed them into second place in the rankings.
The loss yesterday caused them to drop to third place.
Hai Phong played on their home turf, but behind a closed door as Viet Nam Football Federation’s fine after their fans set fire to Lach Tray Stadium last week.
However, thousands of their fans sat around the stadium, watching them on large screens and encouraging strongly from outside.
Jamaican striker Errol Anthony Stevens opened the score at the 25th minute.
Hai Phong were given a free kick just 18m to goalkeeper Pham Van Cuong.
Stevens took the kick, that touched back of a Quang Nam defender and landed in the net under Cuong’s eyes.
It took the hosts 13 minutes to score the second goal.
Andre Diego Fagan, another Jamaican, had a solo performance from home area. He passed Quang Nam’s Phan Dinh Thang and Tran Van Hoc, before beating goalie Cuong.
The victory helped Hai Phong jump to No 4 position with the same 13 points as No 3 Quang Nam.
In another match yesterday between two former champions, Song Lam Nghe An tied Becamex Binh Duong 1-1.
Dugary Ndabashinze broke the tie just one minute before the official time, with a header which struck the right pole and enter the net.
While Becamex Binh Duong’s fans jumped up and hugged each other in celebration, the host supporters stayed quiet and thought about their fourth loss.
But the national U23 forward Ho Tuan Tai did not think the same.
At the third additional minute, he converted a free kick from a left wing by Ho Khac Ngoc into a goal, marking the second match in a row that Song Lam Nghe An found one point after being behind.
The result pushed Song Lam Nghe An to No 10, while Becamex Binh Duong maintained at 12th position.
On Saturday, Hoang Anh Gia Lai’s winning streak was ended after they lost 0-1 to HCM City in the last seconds on their home turf in Pleiku City.
Defender Pham Dang Tuan tried to head the ball to the baseline, but it touched the pole and bounced back to striker Dyachenko Rodion Sergey of HCM City. The Russian player easily scored his goal.
“It is an accident. I do not think of a loss today. My players did not perform well, while some wasted too many chances,” said coach Nguyen Quoc Tuan of Hoang Anh Gia Lai.
“We will take lessons from this match and do better in the next ones.”
Coach Alain Antoine of HCM City said he prepared for difficulties in the match. The three points they earned were not because of luck, but resulted from players’ working together and their determination.
Hoang Anh Gia Lai will stay at home to welcome Sanna Khanh Hoa, who beat Long An 1-0 yesterday.
HCM City will travel to Da Nang to face SHB Da Nang at their lucky Hoa Xuan Stadium. — VNS