VietNamNet Bridge – Song Lam Nghe An (SLNA) reached the finals for the second time in a row at the National Cup after beating Hoang Anh Gia Lai (HAGL) 2-1 in the semifinal yesterday, Aug 10, at Vinh Stadium.

Return engagement: Song Lam Nghe An have reached the National Cup finals for the second time in a row after beating Hoang Anh Gia Lai 2-1 in the semifinal yesterday at Vinh Stadium. (Photo: VNS)
The club, who also won the tournament last year, will defend their title in the final against Navibank Sai Gon, who overcame Lam Son Thanh Hoa in other semifinal at Thanh Hoa on a penalty shootout after two teams drew 2-2 in the normal time.


The first half of the match took place without any highlights when two teams could not start with a strongest line up.


SLNA's head coach Nguyen Huu Thang rested all key players to prepare for two last rounds in the V-League because their V-League title chance is threatened by Ha Noi T&T. HAGL miss main striker Evaldo Goncaves, who has scored 20 goals, because of an injury.


But Thang made some changes in the second half, bringing on midfielder Nguyen Trong Hoang and Jamaican striker Andre Diego Fagan to intensify attacks and his changes were rewarded.


Substitute Nguyen Trong Hoang opened the score in the 65th minute after coming off the bench only six minutes prior, but Doan Viet Cuong equalised the score from the spot with two minutes to go after SLNA's goalkeeper Nguyen Duc Thang fouled on a HAGL striker.


In the delayed match, relegation contender Khanh Hoa surprisingly beats title contender Ha Noi T&T 1-0 to greatly boost their chance of staying in the V-League.

With the result, Khanh Hoa climbed to 11th placed on the ranking table with 29 points while Ha Noi T&T are still in second place with 42 points. 

As the game petered towards the final whistle and all spectators thought of a penalty shootout, HAGL's goalkeeper Nguyen Tuan Manh made a dreadful error of position in allowing the free kick of Nguyen Hong Viet to go overhead and straight into the net.


This victory also helps SLNA maintain their chance of winning a double this season as the club is the leader at the V-League with two games to go.


SLNA only need to beat Ha Noi ACB this weekend and a draw against Ha Noi T&T in the last match of the season will suffice for SLNA to win the title after ten years.


VietNamNet/Viet Nam News