Going up: Becamex Binh Duong players celebrate after scoring against Hoang Anh Gia Lai in their 4-1 victory in the 13th round of the Toyota V.League 1 yesterday. — Photo zing.vn

HA NOI (VNS) — Becamex Binh Duong defeated Hoang Anh Gia Lai (HAGL) 4-1 in the 13th round of Toyota V.League 1 at Go Dau Stadium, topping the first leg of the national premier league.

The team now have 28 points to top 14 teams, followed by FLC Thanh Hoa (25 points) and Hai Phong (22 points).

With the support of fans on their home turf and skilled players, hosts Binh Duong overwhelmed their young rivals with an early goal by captain Nguyen Anh Duc in the third minute. Duc opened the score from a corner penalty in the left wing.

Taking a pass from Moses in the 21st minute, Au Van Hoan helped Binh Duong double the score to 2-0.

Meanwhile, HAGL had several chances to level the score, but their strikers couldn't beat Binh Duong's goalie Quoc Thien Esele. Even HAGL players were often in offside positions.

In the second half, three-time Golden Ball winner Le Cong Vinh easily scored another goal for Binh Duong in the 50th minute.

Attacking efforts earned HAGL a goal in the 72nd minute. Striker Sanogo Moussa put his header past Binh Duong's goalkeeper to shorten the gap to 3-1. However, only four minutes later, receiving a pass from Oloya Moses, Nguyen Trong Hoang raised the score to 4-1 for Binh Duong.

In the other matches played yesterday, Thanh Hoa bested Dong Tam Long An 4-3, while Quang Nam defeated Khanh Hoa 4-1. Dong Nai lost to SHB Da Nang 1-2, and Hai Phong won Dong Thap 2-1.

Elsewhere, Quang Ninh Coal beat Song Lam Nghe An 1-0, and Ha Noi T&T won Can Tho 4-1. — VNS