VietNamNet Bridge – Hosts Hoang Anh Gia Lai tied 10-man Song Lam Nghe An in a goalless match during the V.League’s round seven yesterday in the Central Highlands city of Pleiku.

Que Ngoc Hai of Song Lam Nghe An (centre) tries to run away from Hoang Anh Gia Lai’s Nguyen Van Toan during their V.League match yesterday. Hai was sent off in a match that ended 0-0 – Photo: VNS

Que Ngoc Hai of Song Lam Nghe An, who has returned to football following his being banned for six-months because of his violent tackle to SHB Da Nang last season, and after he received two yellow cards due to his penalties against Hoang Anh Gia Lai’s players. Hai will be again absent from the league for two matches.

Thousands of fans came to fill the 12,000-seat stadium, but did not witness any goals, although many chances were created by both sides.

Tran Phi Son, Odat Onoriode Marshal and Ouattara Baba S. Affoloh of the visiting side tested goalkeeper To Vinh Loi’s skills, while Vu Van Thanh, Le Duc Luong and Nguyen Van Toan of the hosts missed their opportunities.

The draw gave each team one point and maintained them in the middle of the ranking.

Next week, Hoang Anh Gia Lai will play FLC Thanh Hoa on away grounds, while Song Lam Nghe An will host Long An at home.

Yesterday, Long An suffered a 1-3 defeat in a match against Sai Gon FC at the Thong Nhat Stadium.

The loss pushed Long An near the bottom of the table, with only four points after seven matches.

On the other hand, Sai Gon enjoyed their first victory after moving into their new home.

Sai Gon took advantage when Long An lost Huynh Tan Tai was sent off with a red card at the 31st minute.

The hosts went ahead with an opening goal by former Paris Saint Germain striker Jean Eudes Maurice 12 minutes after the interval. Ngan Van Dai doubled the score 10 minutes later, netting from a straight header.

Captain Nguyen Ngoc Duy made it 3-0 with a penalty kick, just minutes before Van Tan narrowed the result for Long An with his header near the end of the game. In another game yesterday, Ha Noi T&T found their winning pace, defeating Dong Thap 5-2, despite being the visiting team at Cao Lanh Stadium.

The second win in a row was a strong push for the former champions, after their previous four losses and one draw. With the win, they jumped from the SOS area to tenth place.

Hoang Vu Olaleya Samson completed his hat trick in 30 minutes in the second half, after Do Hung Dung’s opener at the 11th and Gonzalo Damian Marronkle’s goal 10 minutes before the break.

Dong Thap’s Samson Kpenosen and Marko Simic scored one goal each, but that was not enough to rescue their team from the bottom of the table.

In the early matches of the round on Saturday, Hai Phong beat Quang Ninh Coal 2-1, Quang Nam tied Sanna Khanh Hoa 1-1, and Can Tho made headlines when they knocked-out title favourite FLC Thanh Hoa 5-2.

The last match of the round is between Becamex Binh Duong and SHB Da Nang, which will be held today at Chi Lang Stadium.

VNS