HCM City beat Sanna Khánh Hòa 2-1 yesterday to go top of the V.League 1, while Thanh Hóa enjoyed their first win in seven matches. Photo petrotimes.vn
HÀ NỘI — Ten-man HCM City beat Sanna Khánh Hòa 2-1 yesterday to go top of the V.League 1, while Thanh Hóa enjoyed their first win in seven matches.
As the hosts Khánh Hòa, began the game with confidence and needed only two minutes to open the scoring.
Phạm Trung Tỉnh broke the offside trap and easily tapped in to beat goalkeeper Nguyễn Thanh Thắng of HCM City.
The early goal strengthened Khánh Hòa's spirit and also woke up HCM City’s players.
Trần Thanh Bình equalised with a beautiful volley in the 31st minute and the sides went into the break level.
Disaster struck early in the second stanza for the visitors, as Phạm Công Hiển was given a red card after he brought Tỉnh down during a Khánh Hòa attack.
Coach Chung Hae-seong asked his players to play in defence to protect their point, while the hosts peppered Thắng's goal.
HCM City managed to snatch all three points late on, as Hữu Tuấn’s powerful volley secured victory.
The win pushed HCM City to leading position with 19 points while Khánh Hòa fell to the bottom on five points.
In the day’s other matched in Thanh Hóa, hosts Thanh Hóa grabbed their win in the league this year by beating Quảng Nam 3-2.
Thanh Hóa provided free entry for supporters for this game, and they were rewarded with an opening goal 20 minutes in courtesy of Bùi Văn Hiếu’s close-range finish.
Quảng Nam striker Hà Minh Tuấn made it 1-1 with a header five minutes after the break.
Rimario Allando Gordon and Lê Văn Thắng scored for the hosts in the last 15 minutes before their teammate Lê Thanh Bình made an own goal in the last seconds.
"I am really happy because players had a great match and we won. It is a meaningful win for the whole team as we have progressed gradually," said coach Nguyễn Đức Thắng.
"Thanh Hóa are on right track now. We have overcome difficulties, fixed our disadvantages and determined in every game," he added.
Thanh Hóa jumped to 11th position while they pushed Quảng Nam to second-from-bottom.
In the next matches, Thanh Hóa will welcome defending champions Hà Nội FC and Quảng Nam will visit HCM City on May 11. — VNS
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