VietNamNet Bridge – The title race was thrown right open this weekend as league leaders Ha Noi T&T only managed a goalless draw away to Song Lam Nghe An (SLNA) in the 19th round of the Eximbank V-League 2013.

Despite the slip, Ha Noi T&T and SLNA maintained their grips on first and second places in the table with 35 and 33 points, respectively.

But the distance between them and the chasing pack, which includes defending champions Da Nang, Hoang Anh Gia Lai and Thanh Hoa, is now down to just two points.

Elsewhere yesterday, Aug 11, Gia Lai earned their first win in four games to remain in fourth place after Brazilian striker Evaldo Goncaves scored the side's only goal to edge out new boys Dong Nai 1-0 on home soil in Pleiku City.

Dong Nai's third defeat in a row could spell trouble for the side as they are yet to reach safety and face a tough run-in against two fellow relegation candidates and a title contender.

In Long An Province, Dong Tam Long An extended their winning streak to four and edged closer to safety as they stunned title chasers and defending champions SHB Da Nang 3-2.

Nguyen Viet Thang opened the scoring for Long An but Huynh Quoc Anh and Phan Duy Lam put Da Nang ahead. Thang scored his second goal to level the match before Gilson Campos wrapped up the.

Long An now have 23 points, seven clear of bottom-ranked Kien Giang with just three games remaining.

Thanh Hoa beat Ninh Binh 1-0 to consolidate fifth place, just one point behind Gia Lai in fourth.

The loss puts Ninh Binh in a dangerous situation as they are now only three points off bottom side Kien Giang who they face next week at Ninh Binh's Hoa Lu Stadium in what promises to be a tough encounter.

Relegation-threatened Kien Giang boosted their chance for survival as they beat Xuan Thanh Sai Gon 3-1 at home at Rach Gia Stadium in Rach Gia City in the Mekong Delta province of Kien Giang.

The win puts Kien Giang on 16 points with a chance of survival as the gap with next team Ninh Binh is now down to just two points with three games remaining.

Meanwhile, early goals from Nguyen Anh Duc and Sunday Chukwuemeka helped Binh Duong overcome hosts Hai Phong 2-1. The latter's second-half consolation goal was scored by Justice Majabvi.

Binh Duong almost secured their place in next season's competition with this crucial win as they now need only one point to banish the relegation threat that has haunted them since the first day of the season.

Source: VNS