VietNamNet Bridge – FLC Thanh Hoa and Ha Noi FC played out a 3-3 draw, helping Quang Nam take the top position after the 21st-round matches of the V.League yesterday.

Striker Oseni Ganiyu Bolaj of Ha Noi FC (left) tries to pass Thanh Hoa’s defender Nguyen Van Quang during their V.League match yesterday. The game ended 3-3. — VNS Photo

Within five minutes after the first whistle, the two leading teams in the V.League scored a goal apiece.

Hoang Vu Samson needed just 36 seconds to open the score for Ha Noi FC, the visiting side, at the Thanh Hoa Stadium.

However, their lead lasted for just four minutes and a half, before Mai Tien Thanh netted for the home side from a straight finish.

Captain Pape Omar Faye pushed Thanh Hoa ahead with the second goal in the 24th minute, with the hosts closing the first half with a 2-1 lead.

Oseni Ganiyu Bolaji brought the game to a draw with his successful shoot-out, 20 minutes after the interval.

With two goals each, the scoreboard remained unchanged until the 82nd mark when Le Van Thang broke through Ha Noi’s defence and netted to the far corner of goalkeeper Nguyen Van Cong.

However, Captain Nguyen Van Quyet helped his team keep a point with a strong penalty finish in the last minute.

With one point each, Thanh Hoa have bagged 38 points and Ha Noi have 36. They dropped a rung down, after Quang Nam beat Can Tho 3-2 at a match in Can Tho City.

Nguyen Trung Dai Duong, Phan Dinh Thang and Dos Reis Claudecir scored for Quang Nam, while Nsi Amougou Christian Jose and Nguyen Viet Phong made the goals for Can Thơ.

Quang Nam also have 38 points, but they took the top slot, surpassing Thanh Hoa, thanks to a better goal difference.

The central region representative took the No 1 place this season for the second time. They will keep the seat for at least six days, before the 22nd-round matches begin on Saturday.

In the latest match yesterday, Sanna Khanh Hoa drew with Sai Gon in a goalless match. The draw gave Khanh Hoa one point, which was enough to propel them to the No 4 position. Sai Gon maintained their sixth rank.

Earlier on Saturday, coach Nguyen Quoc Tuan of Hoang Anh Gia Lai resigned after his team’s fourth defeat in a row.

Hoang Anh Gia Lai lost 0-2 to former V.League winner Song Lam Nghe An, although they played on their home ground in the Central Highland city of Pleiku.

“My team got poor results, and I feel I did not do a good job. I hope my successor will do it better and help the team for the remaining matches in the league,” said Tuan, who was in charge of the team for two years.

“I had a great time with Hoang Anh Gia Lai. I have learnt a lot in my coaching career, when I took charge of the team, which was the worst time, as it was facing relegation in the 2015-16 season. I completed the mission and was really happy with that.

“I am proud to be part of the team and have made a little contribution. However, the ups and downs are part of the job. I take responsibility for the team’s unexpected result,” he said.

Tuan will return to training the young players at Hoang Anh Gia Lai Football Academy.

He was replaced by Duong Minh Ninh, a seven-year coach at the club, who is currently the national U22 team coach assistant.

The new coach will get the support of new South Korean technical director Chung Hae Seong, who will start working in Viet Nam on Wednesday.

In the other matches of the round, SHB Da Nang won 2-0 over Long An; Becamex Binh Duong lost 0-1 to Quang Ninh Coal; and Hai Phong beat HCM City 4-1.

VNS