VietNamNet Bridge –Ha Noi ACB breathed a sigh of relief after their 1-0 victory over Khatoco Khanh Hoa yesterday, July 17, at Hang Day Stadium, Ha Noi.

Ngalaha scored the only goal of the match in the 66th minute – one of very few scoring chances.

The three-point win means ACB are now in 11th position with 25 points, considered a safe zone in terms of relegation.

Meanwhile Khanh Hoa dropped to next-to-last spot with just 23 points after 22 games.

In the other late match, former champions Hoang Anh Gia Lai tied 1-1 with Hoa Phat Ha Noi.

Visitors Hoa Phat opened the score five minutes into the second half, thanks to a header from substitute Olushola, who got on the end of a corner kick by midfielder Dinh Thanh Trung.

However, Viet Cuong equalised for Gia Lai with a shot from outside the box in the 79th minute.

The hosts played aggressively in the last 10 minutes after Olushola was sent off. However they could not convert their chances into a goal.

Gia Lai are now in eighth place with 28 points while Hoa Phat are two steps behind on 26.

Nguyen Van Quyet scored a hattrick while Le Cong Vinh netted a brace during Ha Noi T&T's 7-1 victory against Dong Thap in an early match at Ha Noi's Hang Day Stadium on Saturday.

The victory helped the defending champions narrow the gap with leaders Song Lam Nghe An (SLNA), who lost 0-1 to Becamex Binh Duong on the same day.

Quyet scored in the fourth and 12th minutes. His hattrick was completed in the 86th minute.

The visitors' defenders were largely to blame for the goals, while the forwards were ineffective.

T&T's Gonzalo and Nguyen Ngoc Duy were the other goal scorers.

T&T, on 38 points, are four points behind SLNA with one game in hand.

"We have never given up on our target of defending the title. T&T are at their best. After 22 rounds, our chances are improving. We will strive until the last second," said T&T coach Phan Thanh Hung.

In other the other games on Sunday, hosts Vicem Hai Phong lost 2-3 to Ninh Binh, Navibank Sai Gon were beaten 0-1, while SHB Da Nang drew 0-0 with Thanh Hoa.  

VietNamNet/Viet Nam News