Slap-n-tickle: Navibank Sai Gon's Vincent (left) vies for the ball with goalie Duong Hong Son of Ha Noi T&T in their 18th round match of the V-League Eximbank on Saturday. — VNA/VNS Photo Quang Nhut

KIEN GIANG — Dong Thap extended their unbeaten run to four under coach Tran Cong Minh after a convincing away 2-0 win against Kien Giang in the 18th round of the V-League Eximbank 2012 at Rach Gia Stadium yesterday.

Midfielder Tran Minh Loi opened the score just four minutes into the second half and striker Nguyen Hai Anh ensured victory for Dong Thap with a low shot 20 minutes later.

The victory is sweet revenge for Dong Thap's 3-1 defeat at home in the first leg of the season and crucial to avoiding relegation.

With three points from the match, Dong Thap, who have won three and drawn one under Minh, now have 22 points.

"This is a very important win for us because it improves our chances of V-League survival," Tran Cong Minh said.

Meanwhile, the defeat condemned Kien Giang to 12th place, just one point from the drop zone. They will face an uphill task in the rest of the season if they are to prevent relegation to the First Division after just one year in the V-League.

"This loss today puts them back in a very difficult situation," Lai Hong Van, Kien Giang's head coach, said.

Both teams started the match determined to win, which set the tempo from the whistle.

Playing at home and facing a team who they had beaten 3-1 in the first leg, Kien Giang were full of confidence and were the better team in the first half, but they failed to capitalise on their possession.

Striker Oseni Bolaji and Trinh Hoai Nam did not convert the chances they were presented with and the two teams went into the break without scoring.

The second half began with Dong Thap controlling the match.

Just four minutes into the second half, midfielder Tran Minh Loi scored for Dong Thap with a shot just outside the box after defender Le Quang Huy, in his effort to clear the ball, headed the ball to unmarked Loi.

Twenty minutes later, in a quick counter-attack, Joseph Hendrich blocked Felix Ajala's solo effort but the ball fell to Dinh Hoang Max, who passed it to unmarked striker Nguyen Hai Anh, who easily beat Kien Giang goalkeeper Tran Quoc Viet with a low shot to the far corner of the goal.

Kien Giang fought hard for the rest of the match but to no avail.

In other matches yesterday, Da Nang beat Hai Phong to take over second place from Sai Gon FC. Thanh Hoa overcame Hoang Anh Gia Lai 2-1, while Ninh Binh scored a crucial 2-1 win over Ha Noi FC.

On Saturday, leaders Ha Noi T&T, led by coach Phan Thanh Hung, the front-runner for the national team coach position, suffered a 2-0 defeat at the hands of hosts Navibank Sai Gon at Thong Nhat Stadium.

Midfielder Luong Van Duoc Em opened the score with a shot in the box in the 15th minute and Trinidad and Tobago striker Willis Plaza Deon scored the second from a close-range shot.

"We were not effective in both defence and attack. We had some chances in the second half but could not capitalise on them. Today, T&T failed to implement their usual style," Hung said.

"In football, it is normal that a team suffer ups and downs and I believe our players will soon end this difficult period," the Da Nang-born coach said.

Despite the loss, the club's second in a row, Ha Noi T&T remain top of the V-League table with 33 points. Meanwhile, defending champions Song Lam Nghe An extended their draw record to 11 when they were held at home by Sai Gon FC.

In Nha Trang, home team Khanh Hoa tied with Becamex Binh Duong. — VNS