Vĩnh Long television volleyball cup to start

Ten teams will compete at the Vĩnh Long Television Cup from September 28 to October 3. — Photo thethaovietnam.vn

An international volleyball tournament, Vĩnh Long Television Cup, will take place at Vĩnh Long Province’s Gymnasium from September 28 to October 3.

As many as 10 teams (five male, five female) have registered to compete for event.

Apart from teams of Cambodia, Thailand and the Philippines, fans will witness strong domestic teams from HCM City, Long An, and Vĩnh Long (male), as well as LienVietPostBank, VTV Bình Điền Long An, Vĩnh Long Television (female).

Teams play in a round-robin format, selecting the best two ones for the final game. All matches offer free entrance and are broadcast live by Vĩnh Long Television from 2pm on THVL2 channel. 

Midfilder Tuấn Anh to miss AFF Cup

Midfielder Nguyễn Tuấn Anh (right). — Photo zing.vn

Việt Nam and Hoàng Anh Gia Lai (HAGL) midfielder Nguyễn Tuấn Anh will likely miss the upcoming AFF Cup 2018 due to a knee injury.

Anh is being treated in South Korea by doctor Choi Joo Young. He was operated in April after suffering the injury in March against Hải Phòng in the V.League 1. He has been absent from HAGL and Việt Nam’s line-up since then.

“Anh will return to HAGL in late October. At that time, the V.League 1 concluded so he will focus on the next football season,” said HAGL coach Dương Minh Ninh.

Meanwhile, Việt Nam will convene on October 11 in Hà Nội to prepare for the regional event, which is scheduled to be held from November 8 to December 15.

On his Facebook page, Anh said he wished to play with his teammates in the national premier league next year.

The 23-year-old midfielder is considered one of the most technically gifted midfielders Vietnamese football has ever seen.

The northern province of Thái Bình-born Anh won the 2014 young player of the year award. He made his V.League 1 debut in 2015 and was voted the team’s best player at the end of the season.

He joined Yokohama FC of Japan in 2015 on a season-long loan. 

TNG Thái Nguyên beat Sơn La in women’s football champs

TNG Thái Nguyên vs Sơn La in the second leg of the National Women’s Football Championship – Thái Sơn Bắc Cup on September 18. Thái Nguyên beat Sơn La 2-1. — Photo vff.org.vn

TNG Thái Nguyên came from behind to beat Sơn La 2-1 in the second leg of the National Women’s Football Championship – Thái Sơn Bắc Cup held at Thống Nhất Stadium in HCM City on September 18.

Sơn La missed their chance to escape from bottom place in the rankings, and now have only one point after seven matches. Thái Nguyên are fifth with seven points.

Thái Nguyên controlled the game from the opening but Sơn La grabbed the opener in the 37th minute. From a quick counter-attack, Lê Hồng Vân scored from a devilish long shot to break Sơn La’s duck for the season.

After the break, Thái Nguyên bounced back strongly and had a goal chalked off for offside in the 47th minute.

Thái Nguyên’s efforts were finally rewarded in the 77th minute when Nguyễn Thị Nga levelled the score at 1-1, and as Sơn La began to tire, Nguyễn Hương Giang scored the winner.

Hà Nội top the league with 17 points, followed by Việt Nam Coal and Mineral and Phong Phú Hà Nam. 

SLNA tie with Quảng Ninh in V.League 1

Sông Lam Nghệ An vs Quảng Ninh Coal in the 23rd round of V.League 1 yesterday. Sông Lam Nghệ An tied with Quảng Ninh Coal 2-2. — Photo vietnamnet.vn

Sông Lam Nghệ An (SLNA) had victory within their grasp, but a lack of focus in the closing minutes meant they shared points with Quảng Ninh Coal in the 23rd round of V.League 1 yesterday.

SLNA tied 2-2 with Quảng Ninh in the game held at Cẩm Phả Stadium in the northern province of Quảng Ninh.

With the support of home fans, Quảng Ninh played actively and put the pressure on the visiting side’s goal. However, SLNA played more effectively.

In the 34th minute, Jermie Lynch opened the score for SLNA. Just a minute later, Lynch took full advantage of an error by Quảng Ninh’s defence to double the score for the visitors.

In the second half, Teofilo Soares Eydison scored two goals for Quảng Ninh in the 86th and 88th minutes.

In another match, Khánh Hòa tied 0-0 with hosts SHB Đà Nẵng.

Despite playing away, Khánh Hòa controlled the game from the opening whistle.

In the 10th minute, midfielder Nguyễn Hoàng Quốc Chí had the chance to score the opener for Khánh Hòa but keeper Nguyễn Thanh Bình easily managed a save.

Several minutes later, striker Youssouf Toure overcame the hosts’ defence to face goalkeeper Bình but the ball hit the cross bar.

The hosts then bounced back. They had the first dangerous opening on Khánh Hòa’s goal in the 18th minute. Striker Hà Đức Chinh shot from the outside of the penalty area but former national goalie Nguyễn Tuấn Mạnh parried it.

The two sides then went on the attack but no goals were scored in the first half.

After the break, coach Võ Đình Tân of Khánh Hòa changed his tactics and squad in chase of goals. However, they were still short of luck and failed to find the net.

HAGL to face Hà Nội

The national premier league’s 23rd round will continue today. All eyes will be on the match between Hoàng Anh Gia Lai (HAGL) and champions Hà Nội FC at Pleiku Stadium in Gia Lai Province.

The team from the capital have already won the league with five games still to play. However, the match is expected to be an interesting battle with members of the Việt Nam U23 team who shone at the AFC U23 Championship held in China in January and the recent Asian Games in Indonesia facing off.

Hà Nội midfielders Nguyễn Quang Hải and Đỗ Duy Mạnh will face national teammates Nguyễn Công Phượng, Nguyễn Văn Toàn, Trần Minh Vương and Lương Xuân Trường.

It will be difficult for HAGL to make the top four with just three rounds to play, and they’ll be without defender Vũ Văn Thanh due to an injury that is expected to keep him out for at least two weeks.

HAGL’s captain Lương Xuân Trường will also be missig following minor nose surgery.

However, HAGL will welcome the return of striker Nguyễn Văn Toàn and midfielder Josip Zeba after suspension.

Croatian Zeba is expected to slot into the defence for HAGL, while Toàn will offer more options up front.

Phượng is likely to be a bright spot for HAGL today after scoring two goals in the match with HCM City last Friday to raise his tally in the league to 10.

“We are determined to take three three points from the game. We will make every effort to play an attractive and successful match,” said coach Dương Minh Ninh of HAGL.

Elsewhere, Thanh Hóa will take on Quảng Nam, Bình Dương meet Cần Thơ and Hải Phòng face Nam Định.

HAGL lose to defending champions Hà Nội

Striker Oseni Ganiyu Bolayi of Hà Nội (middle) vies with HAGL’s footballers in the V.League 1 on Wednesday. Hà Nội beat HAGL 5-3. — Photo plo.vn

Hoàng Anh Gia Lai lost to champions Hà Nội FC 5-3 in the V.League 1 on Wednesday at Pleiku Stadium in Gia Lai Province.

Despite the capital side having already secured the league title, the match drew much attention as both teams contributed multiple players to the national U23 team that has fared so well recently at the AFC U23 Championship in China in January and the recent Asian Games in Indonesia.

The away side came out of the blocks on fire, scoring four goals in the opening 41 minutes through Nigerian striker Oseni Ganiyu Bolayi’s brace and a goal each from midfielders Trương Văn Thái Quý and Hồ Minh Dĩ.

With the first half nearly closed, Joseph Zebar headed home to narrow the gap for the hosts.

After the break, the home team bounced back strongly with U23 striker Nguyễn Công Phượng and midfielder Triệu Việt Hưng scoring to cut the gap to 4-3.

However, substitute U23 player Đoàn Văn Hậu put paid to any hopes to a comeback by netting Hà Nội’s fifth and final goal.

The loss ended HAGL’s hopes of a top five finish, leaving them on 27 points after 23 matches, in 11th place in the 14-team table and facing a slim chance of relegation.

“Following three losses in a row, our initial goal is broken. Even, HAGL have fallen into a fight to stay the league. We will try our best in the next three games,” said HAGL coach Dương Minh Ninh after the match.

“However, I am satisfied about the competitive spirit of the whole team today. But the defence showed weak points, causing conceding goals,” Ninh added.

Striker Phượng has been one bright spot in this campaign, with his latest strike putting him on 11 league goals for the season.

Meanwhile, coach Chu Đình Nghiêm of Hà Nội was glad with his team’s result ahead of matches that mean more for the champions, particularly the second leg of the National Cup away to Bình Dương on Sunday. The first leg in the capital was a 3-3 draw.

“I am very satisfied with this victory. Some young players had chances to play in this game and they competed well. We didn’t care about the result of this game as we have already won the league with five games still to play. We only focused on giving fans an interesting match. We will have an important game in the upcoming National Cup’s semi-finals,” said Nghiêm.

In other matches played the same day, Bình Dương won Cần Thơ 1-0, Hải Phòng drew 1-1 with Nam Định and HCM City beat Sài Gòn 5-0.

Hà Nội FC top the rankings with 58 points, ahead of second-placed Khánh Hoà by 18 points and Thanh Hoá in third by 21.