HA NOI (VNS)— Struggling Becamex Binh Duong successfully managed to pull themselves out of the danger zone yesterday by recording an important victory at home by stunning formidable Song Lam Nghe An (SLNA) 2-1 in the Eximbank V-League 2013.

Jamaican striker Kavin Bryan opened the scoring for SLNA after a counter-attack three minutes from half time, but Trinh Quang Vinh cancelled SLNA's lead in first half stoppage time.

Naturalized striker Huynh Kesley Alves scored the winning goal for the home team in the 77th minute after coming off the bench to replace forward Nguyen Anh Duc.

With three points from the win, Binh Duong, former two-time champions, have leapfrogged Ninh Binh into 10th place in the 12-team league, from which one team will be relegated at the end of the season.

The result means that SLNA drop into second place, but are still firmly in contention for the title.

Kien Giang fell further towards a life in the First Division after a humiliating 5-1 defeat at home at the hands of Hai Phong in yesterday's other game, their sixth defeat in eight games.

Hai Phong coach Hoang Anh Tuan is now free from relegation worries after his side's second successive win took them to 25 points and safety, following the club's worst period of the season during which they secured just two points in seven games.

On Saturday, Ha Noi T&T showed their title ambitions by stepping up a gear and trouncing hosts Dong Nai 4-0 at Bien Hoa to take top place from SLNA.

Argentinian Gonzalo Marronkle and Nguyen Van Quyet scored in the first half before Nigerian Samson Kayode and Pham Thanh Luong added two more to take the 2010 champions to the top of the V-League with 34 points.

Elsewhere on Saturday, Xuan Thanh Sai Gon came from behind twice to draw 3-3 with defending champions SHB Da Nang at Thong Nhat Stadium in HCM City, leaving Da Nang trailing three points behind leaders Ha Noi T&T.

Dong Tam Long An continued their amazing revival under coach Ngo Quang Sang, earning a hard-fought but important victory away to Ninh Binh.

"The victory has not ensured Long An's safety, but it's given us a boost in the relegation battle," said Sang, adding that his players' discipline and determination had paid off.

Thanh Hoa caused the biggest surprise of the weekend by defeating hosts and fourth-placed Hoang Anh Gia Lai 3-1 to end their undefeated 13-game streak at home.

Mac Hong Quan opened the scoring in the first half but Nigerian striker Ganiyu Bolaji Oseni cancelled it out early in the second. Le Quoc Phuong and Nguyen The Duong picked up a goal each to secure victory for Thanh Hoa who remain in fifth place, a point behind Gia Lai. — VNS