V-League defending champions Ha Noi T&T edged closer to defending their title
after beating SHB Da Nang by 3-1 while former champions Song Lam Nghe An
suffered their second defeat in a row in Ha Noi yesterday, June 5.

Da Nang’s Gaston Merlo
put his team in the lead after a cross-field solo effort easily found the net,
three minutes after which T&T’s Gonzalo Marronkle levelled the score by a header
that forced the Da Nang goalie, Thanh Binh, to wrestle the ball from the net.

Top national striker
Le Cong Vinh scored for T&T after being awarded a penalty due to Da Nang
defender Tan Dien’s foul on striker Hong Tien making it 2-1 for the champions.

Midfielder Vo Duy Nam
set up a beautiful goal in the 17th minute with a banana-shaped, 22m tap into
the net.

T&T’s victory helped
them move a spot up into fourth position with 27 points, one with one match
still in hand while Da Nang maintained second place with 31 points.

Song Lam Nghe An were
hard hit by their defeat against Hanoians Hoa Phat Ha Noi by 2-1 following a
winning-streak.

Hoa Phat’s Timothy
Anjembe converted a penalty to open scoring only seconds after the break. A Nghe
An penalty, deftly taken by Nguyen Hoang Helio in the 65th minute, resulted in a
level score, two minutes after which Anjembe scored his second, match winning
goal.

Nghe An retained their
35 point top spot despite losing with four more points than their closest rivals
Da Nang.

Hoa Phat moved up from
11th to ninth place ending on 21 points, miles away from the relegation zone.

During other matches
on the same day, two-time champion Becamex Binh Duong defeated Khatoco Khanh Hoa
by 2-0, Dong Tam Long An drew with Vissai Ninh Binh by 2-2 and Dong Thap, the
surprise team of the season, defeated Hai Phong Cement by 2-0.

Hoang Anh Gia Lai
trounced Ha Noi ACB with a tennis score of 6-1 while Thanh Hoa went home with a
2-0 win over Navibank Sai Gon on Saturday.

VietNamNet/Viet
Nam News