Quang Nam leads First Division
HCMC – Last year’s runners-up Hanoi T&T defeated Kienlongbank KG 2-1 at Hang Day Stadium on Sunday to secure top position, while Saigon FC climbed to second after crushing Haiphong 4-0 in the fourth matchday of the Super League-Eximbank on Saturday.
Hanoi T&T piled on pressure on their opponents from the beginning but despite the constant onslaught Kienlongbank held out until the 57th minute when national striker Nguyen Van Quyet put the home side in front - before Kienlongbank’s Duy An equalized with two minutes to go.
Van Quyet, though, was not to be denied as he hit an injury-time winner.
Hanoi T&T have now snatched pole position of the Super League from SHB Danang with 10 points from three wins and one draw, while newly-promoted Kienlongbank drop to 13th place with only three points from four games.
Saigon FC secured second after crushing Haiphong at Thong Nhat Stadium. Nsi Amougou Jose netted in the 43rd and 77th minutes, with Antonio Carlos also netting a double in the last five minutes.
Meanwhile, the game between SHB Danang and Song Lam Nghe An at Danang’s Chi Lang Stadium was the clash of the day as both sides are strong favorites to win the league title. Song Lam needed a win at home to join the top three, while Danang eyed a fourth victory to maintain top spot.
The two sides went out all guns blazing but despite some great opportunities it was goalless until Hector H. Kerin netted for the visitors in the 55th minute. It looked like the champions would hold on until Gaston Merlo earned a crucial point for SHB Danang with an unstoppable header with just two minutes to go.
Saigon FC and SHB Danang now have eight points each from four games, with the former sitting second on goal difference, while Haiphong sit bottom on two points.
Song Lam is sixth with six points, the same points as fifth-placed Becamex Binh Duong, who defeated Hanoi Club 3-1 at home.
Dong Thap beat 12th-placed Khatoco Khanh Hoa 3-1 at home on Sunday, climbing to joint seventh on the back of one win, two draws and a loss with Navibank Saigon, who won 2-0 at Hoang Anh Gia Lai who are tenth on four points.
XM The Vissai Ninh Binh moved to fourth with seven points after a 1-0 home victory over ninth-placed Thanh Hoa.
Round 4 results: Super League Hoang Anh 0 Navibank Saigon 2 Ninh Binh 1 Thanh Hoa 0 Saigon FC 4 Dong Thap 3 Khanh Hoa 1 Hanoi T&T 2 Kienlongbank 1 SHB Danang 1 Song Lam 1 Binh Duong 3 Hanoi Club 1 First Division HCMC 2 Quang Nam4 Hanoi 1 Lam Dong 3 Hung Vuong AG 1 Junior Hanoi0 TDC Binh Duong 1 Junior SHB Danang 1 Dong Nai 2 Dong Tam Tiles 1 Binh Dinh 1 Quang Ninh 1 Tay Ninh 0 Can Tho 0 |
* Quang Nam moved top of the First Division ahead of Hanoi after trouncing HCMC 4-2 at Thong Nhat Stadium in a late game on Sunday.
Lam Dong and Dong Nai also picked up impressive victories. Lam Dong, beat Hanoi 3-1 at Hang Day Stadium and Dong Nai earned a 2-1 home win over Dong Tam Long An Tiles.
Quang Nam now sits top on goal difference ahead of Lam Dong, Dong Nai, Dong Tam Tiles and Hanoi, with five teams on seven points.
Junior Hanoi were defeated 1-0 by sixth-placed Hung Vuong An Giang in An Giang Province and fell to 12th on three points, while Tay Ninh picked up their first point in a 0-0 draw with Can Tho.
The games between TDC Binh Duong and Junior SHB Danang, and Binh Dinh and Quang Ninh Coal both ended 1-1. TDC Binh Duong is 13th with three points from four games.
