Football

HA NOI —  After a tight encounter, HCM City were beaten by a single Quang Ninh Coal goal late on in the ninth match of the V.League 1 yesterday.

The game was held at Cam Pha Stadium in the northern province of Quang Ninh.

Despite being the away team, HCM City started with confidence and had a number of chances to take the lead in the opening exchanges.

As the clock ticked a goalless draw seemed the likely result but in the 82^nd minute HCM City midfielder Tran Phi Son thought he had broken the deadlock only for his goal to be ruled offside.

So incensed with the decision, Son’s protests were deemed too much by the match official who promptly showed the visiting player the red card.

That close call, and the extra man advantage, gave the home side a lift and just three minutes later a long effort by Trinh Hoa Hung ended up in the back of the net to secure three points for the home team.

In Da Nang, the hosts SHB Da Nang couldn’t break the defence line of Becamex Binh Duong and the game finished 0-0.

The match attracted the attention of media and fans nationwide as the two sides have had many achievements in the national premier league. SHB Da Nang have won the league three times and finished runners-up for five times. They have also won the National Cup twice. While Binh Duong have also taken the league’s trophy for four times and finished
runners-up twice.

The two teams used their best players in this game to seek three points to improve their rankings. However, they played very carefully in the first half.

When the first half nearly closed, the best midfielder of SHB Da Nang, Lam Anh Quang had to withdraw through injury.

After the break, Binh Duong pressed to have the opener but all their effort was failed.

Elsewhere, Sai Gon FC lost to Can Tho 1-2. — VNS