VietNamNet Bridge – Winger Huynh Quoc Anh triggered a double while Argentinean scorer Gaston Merlo and Tanzanian Danny David added a goal each to help SHB Da Nang trounce Sai Gon Xuan Thanh Cement 4-0 in the Super Cup on Saturday.

Cup triumph: Da Nang celebrate winning the Super Cup on Saturday.

It was the first time the Da Nang team had bagged the trophy since it debuted in 1999.

The hosts also walked away with a cash-prize of VND200 million (US$9,500), while the losers pocketed VND100 million ($4,700).

Da Nang had another reason to celebrate their new-year victory when their boss Do Quang Hien announced a cash bonus of VND1 billion ($48,000) after the match.

Coach Le Huynh Duc fielded the team’s best squad. Captain Nguyen Minh Phuong teamed up with Anh, Pham Nguyen Sa and Doan Hung Son to set up a powerful midfield.

Despite rain, over 10,000 fans flocked to Chi Lang Stadium to support the host team.

Just three minutes into the game, Anh netted the ball from close range to beat national goalkeeper Bui Tan Truong.

Da Nang then upped the offensive with wingers Anh and Merlo’s positioning and support from Romanian Sabin-Cosmin Goia and David.

The hosts missed other clear chances to score in the last minutes before the break when Nigerian striker Suleiman Abdullahi faced goalie Thanh Binh in a quick counterattack.

However, Binh made a perfect save and sustained the 1-0 first-half lead for the hosts.

Da Nang continued to dominate in the second half, keeping the visitors on the defensive to vocal home crowd support.

In the 65th minute, David passed for Merlo to tap in.

The goal marked a perfect return for the Argentinean striker after a knee ligament operation. He has inked a three-year contract with Da Nang when his old contract expired last year.

Anh helped the host lead 3-0 in the 70th minute when he hit the rebound to beat goalie Tan Truong once again.

Danny completed the Super Cup final with a solo performance three minutes before the final whistle, when he dribbled the ball past three defenders and goalkeeper Truong to an empty net.

Sai Gon Xuan Thanh then attacked but they still failed to beat the host’s defence.

The national Super Cup, which has been a curtain-raiser of the national football championships since 1999, was a match between national premier football championship V-League and the National Cup winner.

Da Nang won the V-League last year, while Sai Gon Xuan Thanh bagged the National Cup.

Source: VNS