Fancy footwork: Tanzanian striker Davis Danny of SHB Da Nang (left) dribbles the ball past a Song Lam Nghe An defender in their V-League match at Da Nang's Chi Lang Stadium yesterday. Da Nang won 3-2. — VNS Photo Cong Thanh

DA NANG (VNS)— Argentinean Gaston Merlo scored a crucial goal to help hosts SHB Da Nang fight back to win against Song Lam Nghe 3-2 in V-League at Chi Lang Stadium yesterday.

Just 16 minutes into the game striker Le Cong Vinh scored to take Song Lam Nghe An into the lead.

The 23-year-old escaped from an offside trap by Nghe An to trail his teammate Trong Hoang's pass before stunning Da Nang's goalkeeper Thanh Binh.

In the 29th minute, Vinh made the score 2-0 after receiving a pass from Jamaica's Kavin Bryan in the penalty area to fire a close range shot to the back of the net.

Vietnamese Golden Ball winner Huynh Quoc Anh pulled back a goal in the 36th for Da Nang and the host equalised the score in the second minute of injury time of the first half. A Minh Phuong free kick was supposedly deflected by Nghe An defender Dinh Hoang but it entered the net.

Ten minutes into the second half time, Gaston Merlo of Da Nang out-jumped Nghe An's defence to head home from Quoc Anh's left cross, a thrilling moment for the hosts.

The win will keep Da Nang fifth on the table with two games to go.

Song Lam Nghe An still lead the V-League, but Ha Noi T&T and Hoang Anh Gia Lai are breathing down their necks with only one point between them.

In the other match played yesterday, Ha Noi T&T crushed Dong Tam Long An 4-1. — VNS