VietNamNet Bridge – Although missing two key foreign footballers, Hai Phong still defeated defending champions Binh Duong 3-1 to take back their top position in the 19th round match of the V.League 1 yesterday, Aug 7.

Head above: Hai Phong beat Binh Duong 3-1 in the 19th round match of the V.League 1 yesterday. — Photo: VNN

Hai Phong didn’t have the appearance of Andre Diego Fagan and Anthony Stevens who have been banned for three matches after sarcastically bowing to referee Vo Minh Tri in the 18th round.

Only 15 minutes after the referee whistled, Le Cong Vinh opened the scoring for Binh Duong after receiving a pass from Le Tan Tai.

However, Nguyen Dinh Bao leveled the score at 1-1 for Hai Phong in the 28th minute.

Taking full advantage of Binh Duong defenders’ error, striker Le Van Thang raised the score to 2-1 several minutes later.

In the last minutes of the first half, from a quick attack, Bao helped Hai Phong fix the match at 3-1.

With this win, Hai Phong took the lead out of 14 teams with 37 points, followed by Ha Noi T&T with 35 points and Da Nang with 34 points.

In other fixtures, Ha Noi T&T beat SHB Da Nang 2-1 at Chi Lang Stadium in the central coastal city of Da Nang.

The visitors Ha Noi T&T controlled the match since the first minutes.

In the 17th minute, striker Hoang Vu Samson opened the score for Ha Noi T&T.

The hosts attacked to level the score but they couldn’t beat the visitors’ defenders.

T&T had one more goal in the first half but the referee didn’t recognise that goal because of an offside by Nguyen Van Quyet.

In the 68th minute, Gonzalo Damian Marronkle doubled the score for T&T, but only five minutes later, Da Nang had a goal to narrow the gap thanks to striker Gaston Melo.

Elsewhere, FLC Thanh Hoa lost to Hoang Anh Gia Lai 1-3, Dong Thap tied with Quang Ninh Coal 1-1, Quang Nam drew goalless with Can Tho, Sai Gon FC had a draw of 1-1 with Khanh Hoa.

VNS