The Nuti Cafe V-League 2018’s second round saw Hanoi FC and Quang Ninh Coal share the two top spots, with the maximum of six points after two rounds. FLC Thanh Hoa have also made a good start as they narrowly defeated Ho Chi Minh City, while Song Lam Nghe An lost at home against Sanna Khanh Hoa BVN and stand at the bottom of the table.

Quang Ninh Coal (blue shirt) produced an impressive performance to beat Saigon (pink shirt) 2-1 late Sunday. 

The highlight of the second round was the confrontation on the home field of Thanh Hoa between two teams of foreign coaches who made their debut this season, Marian Mihail of FLC Thanh Hoa and Toshiya Miura of Ho Chi Minh City.

With the backing of the home fans, Thanh Hoa overwhelmed the visitors with a series of attacks. In the 5th minute, Minh Tuan almost scored the home team’s opener but the ball went narrowly wide of keeper Thanh Diep’s goal. It was the midfielder who then unexpectedly escaped down the pitch to hit the net of Miura’s team in the 32nd minute, but the goal was denied by the referee for offside.

In the second half, the guests’ defensive line could not stand against the attacks from Thanh Hoa and conceded the only goal in the 70th minute. From a long pass by the national U23 team’s keeper Bui Tien Dung, Dinh Tung scored the only goal of the match.

* A surprise came in the round as Song Lam Nghe An lost at home to Sanna Khanh Hoa. The Nghe An players created many dangerous situations, however, on a great day, goalkeeper Tuan Manh repeatedly saved the visiting team. In the first half, the goalie made at least four saves to deny the home team. Missing many opportunities, cost Nghe An as they conceded a goal from a decisive counter-attack from the visitors. In the last minute of the first half, Toure combined with Quoc Chi and crossed to Lam Ti Phong to open the score for Sanna Khanh Hoa. The game did not change much in the second half as Nghe An created a lot of pressure to find the leveler, while Sanna Khanh Hoa stayed focused to defend the 1-0 lead.

* The latest match last night at Thong Nhat Stadium saw Saigon FC score an early opener against guests Quang Ninh Coal in the 12th minute thanks to Hoang Thien. However, that was all the home team could muster and Quang Ninh found the equaliser early in the second half through Hai Huy. In the 56th minute, foreign player Eydison’s header made it 2-1 for the guests and that is how it remained.

After round 2, Quang Ninh rose to second position in the table with six points, level with leaders Hanoi FC but with an inferior goal difference. Becamex Binh Duong are in third, while Sanna Khanh Hoa and FLC Thanh Hoa ranked fourth and fifth, respectively.

Nhan Dan