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| Song Lam Nghe An celebrate beating Thanh Hoa in the first leg semi-final of the National Cup yesterday. – Photo zing.vn |
Viet Nam News
Football
HA NOI – Song Lam Nghe An (SLNA) beat Thanh Hoa 3-2 in the first leg of their semi-final in the National Cup yesterday.
The game was held at Thanh Hoa Stadium.
SLNA have won this event three times, while the hosts Thanh Hoa have never tasted victory.
Before the game, SLNA had won eight games in a row in the national premier league, while Thanh Hoa had three wins and two draws in their last five matches.
In the 13th minute, receiving a pass from defender Dinh Dong, Pape Omar headed in the opener for Thanh Hoa, but SLNA replied three minutes later through Jeremie Dwayne Lynch. His long shot beat goalie Bui Tien Dung who shone for the national U23 team at the AFC U23 Championship held in China in January, where Viet Nam finished runners-up for the first time in history.
Lynch’s goal spurred SLNA into action, and their second came on the counter attack in the 22nd through Michael Olaha.
SLNA had control of the game, but a mistake by goalkeeper Phan Dinh Vu Hai allowed Rimario Gordon to level the score at 2-2 for the hosts Thanh Hoa in the 37th minute.
After the break, coach Nguyen Duc Thang changed his tactics, and Hai upped his game, saving well from a corner in the 71st minute and another save from Vu Minh Tuan two minutes later.
With the clock ticking down, Lynch clinched the match at 3-2 for SLNA.
The two teams will meet again in the second leg on September 5.
In yesterday’s other game, Ha Noi drew with Binh Duong 3-3. – VNS
OVietnam