VietNamNet Bridge – Debutant Le Cong Vinh marked his return to hometown club Song Lam Nghe An with the opening goal in a 2-1 victory against Hai Phong on March 3, as the opening weekend of the new V-League season got off to a flying start.

Debutant Le Cong Vinh marked his return to hometown club Song Lam Nghe An with the opening goal in a 2-1 victory against Hai Phong on March 3.— Photo bongda.com.vn

Vinh, who grew up in Nghe An and trained with the club at the beginning of his career, completed his transfer on the eve of the new campaign. The three-time Golden Ball winner was hotly-tipped to make an impression in his first game on home turf, and he could not have got off to a better start, scoring in the 24th minute with a fierce left-foot drive that gave Hai Phong keeper Danh Hoang Tuan no chance.

The lead was doubled eight minutes after the break when Hector Hughton’s fine cross was met by the head of Deon Plaza.

Hai Phong ensured a tense end to the game after pulling a goal back in the 74th minute through Antonino Carlos’s well-taken penalty.

In yesterday’s other games, V-League newcomers Dong Nai upset the odds with a well-deserved 1-0 victory against Ninh Binh, thanks to an early goal from Le Hoang Phat Thierry, while defending champions SHB Da Nang recorded an easy 2-0 win over Kienlongbank Kien Giang after second-half goals courtesy of international star Huynh Quoc Anh and Sabin Cosmin.

On Saturday, Ha Noi T&T defeated Hoang Anh Gia Lai 2-0 in the battle between the former league champions while Dong Tam Long An marked their V-League return after a one-year absence with a 1-1 draw against Thanh Hoa and Xuan Thanh Sai Gon managed to scrape a 1-0 win against big-spending Becamex Binh Duong.

After the first set of fixtures, Da Nang and Ha Noi T&T share top spot.

Source: VNS