VietNamNet Bridge – HCM City-based football club Sai Gon Xuan Thanh (SGXT) secured its place in the V-League 2012 after it won the First Division 2011 with five rounds remaining.

The team, which has not conceded a defeat so far this season, beat Can Tho 7-3 on Tuesday to have a total of 49 points, 15 points more than the second-placed team Kienlongbank Kien Giang.

"It was not as easy as people thought. All players and coaching staff have had to work hard from the beginning of the season," said Lu Dinh Tuan, head coach of SGXT.

"But it is also fortunate that the club is well-financed so we can recruit qualified players," said Tuan.

SGXT, whose former name is Xuan Thanh Ha Tinh and based in Ha Tinh Province, were established in 2010 and chose Thong Nhat Stadium in HCM City as its home turf at the beginning of this season.

After moving to the biggest city of the country, the club also splashed out money to bring in good players like striker Huynh Kesley, national defender Le Phuoc Tu and midfielder Nguyen Minh Duc.

Kesley, Tu and Duc are main factors behind the club's success. While Kesley is the leading scorer for the club with 16 goals, Tu and Duc are key players in defence and the midfield, respectively.

"The club will be invested to play well in the V-League next year," said Tuan, whose contract with the club has one year remaining.

In addition to SGXT's automatic promotion, the second-place team will play the play-off with the 13th-placed in the V-League for a place in the V-League.

The second place is a close race between Kienglongbank Kien Giang, An Giang, Quang Ninh Coal and Binh Dinh, who are just separated by two points.

While Hue are almost demoted to the second division, the remaining demotion ticket is the race between Tay Ninh, Quang Nam and Nam Dinh, who are just one point away.

The First Division is the second-tier football championship in Viet Nam and has 14 teams, which play against each other at home and away.

VietNamNet/Viet Nam News