Injuries, fine force key V.League players to rest

HA NOI — Midfielder Pham Manh Hung of Song Lam Nghe An and striker Tran Minh Vuong of Hoang Anh Gia Lai have to rest for the next V.League rounds because of injuries.

Hung tore a knee ligament in a round-four match last week and needs surgery. Doctors said it would take him from seven to eight months to recover, which means that the national player will be out of action for this whole season.

Hung’s absence is a strong blow to coach Nguyen Duc Thang’s defence as his defender Tran Dinh Hoang is recovering from a knee cartilage surgery and can return only in May.

“My key players are injured, and their young teammates are not experienced enough. Hoang and Hung’s absence will bring me a lot of difficulty. I will have to carefully work out the next steps,” coach Thang said.

Song Lam Nghe An have won only one game in five rounds, the others being two draws and two losses.

They will next visit Quang Ninh Coal this weekend.

In the case of Hoang Anh Gia Lai, forward Vuong had a relapse of his ligament injury after their first win over Can Tho in V.League on Sunday.

The former champions have not made any official announcement about Vuong, but it is believed that he will stay back while Hoang Anh Gia Lai play at Becamex Binh Duong’s Go Dau Stadium this Sunday.

For this weekend, midfielder Le Quoc Phuong of FLC Thanh Hoa will also be on the bench as he has been slapped with a two-match ban by the Viet Nam Football Federation for a dangerous foul against Au Van Hoan of HCM City FC. The foul, HCM City FC’s president Le Cong Vinh said, may have caused serious injury to Hoan’s legs and may affect his team’s strength. — VNS