VietNamNet Bridge – A Hai Phong team reduced to nine players was defeated 0-3 by Dong Thap in the V-league's 17th round yesterday, May 13, in Cao Lanh City.

The loss was a blow to their hopes of avoiding relegation, and made their chances of staying in the national premier league exist in theory only as they have only 11 points and stand at the bottom of the ranking table.

Meanwhile Dong Thap played confidently after their winning streak under coach Tran Cong Minh, a member of the nation's golden football generation.

Their victory helped them run away from the next-to-bottom place with 19 points.

Starting with all strongest players the hosts opened their attack right after the starting whistle, which forced Hai Phong to defend all the time and creating no chances to carry out their tactics.

At the 27th minute Dinh Hoang Max made a solo performance passing two Hai Phong defenders before shooting to the far right corner of goalie Dau Ngoc Tan to open the score.

The score was doubled in the last minutes of the first half when the visiting defenders made a big mistake, giving the ball to striker Nguyen Hai Anh who easily made it 2-0 from a close-range tap.

In the second half, coach Le Thuy Hai strengthened his team when striker Kavin Elroy Bryan was called up to the field. However the situation was not improved, although Bryan was given some opportunities which he wasted.

The hosts were awarded a penalty at the 72nd minute when Edmund Ousu Ansah faulted Hai Anh in the box. The referee's decision was strongly objected to by Hai Phong players, causing two red cards for keeper Tan and midfielder Dinh Tien Thanh.

The penalty was then converted into the third goal of the match.

In the 18th round this weekend, Hai Phong will battle former champions SHB Da Nang, who were defeated 0-2 by Hoang Anh Gia Lai on Saturday.

In another game, Dong Thap will play Kienlongbank Kien Giang who drew Sai Gon FC 0-0 yesterday.

The other matches of the 17th round will kicked off today when defending champions Ha Noi T&T meet Song Lam Nghe An and Ninh Binh face Navibank Sai Gon.

VietNamNet/Viet Nam News