LookAtVietnam – Nam Dinh beat The Cong 1-0 to take the top position in the V-League after its fifth round yesterday at Thien Truong Stadium.

Nam Dinh beat The Cong 1-0 to take the top position in the V-League. (Photo: VNN)

Lung managed a goal from a ball that was blown out from The Cong goalkeeper Nguyen Manh Dung. He volleyed straight back to the net and scored the only goal of the match, in the 78th minute.

Earlier, in the first half, The Cong seemed to be on the attack, but Robert Nista and Thach Bao Khanh failed to score any goal.

Young forward Nguyen Ngoc Duy nearly opened the score for The Cong in the 24th minute, but he was off-sides.

After five rounds, Nam Dinh jumped to the top of the ranking table with 10 points, while The Cong were at 10th with only five.

In Ha Noi, former champions Hoang Anh Gia Lai (HAGL) grabbed their third victory, and the first while away, beating host T&T Ha Noi 2-0.

National most valuable striker Le Cong Vinh’s injury caused the Hanoian team many scoring difficulties.

T&T Ha Noi defenders could only protect their net in the first half yesterday, mainly through goalkeeper Duong Hong Son, who was voted the best player of the ASEAN Football Federation Cup last December.

The lonely Son suffered the first goal loss at the 54th minute, when HAGL newcomer Phan Thanh Binh netted from a header after a corner kick by Thai playmaker Dasakone Thonglao.

Thonglao then himself doubled the result from another corner kick. His banana-shaped shot went straight to the net, and keeper Son could do nothing to resist.

With the win, HAGL jumped from the ninth position to fourth, with while T&T Ha Noi went down from second to fifth, even through it was only their first loss this season.

SHB Da Nang took the biggest win yesterday with a 5-2 victory over Military Zone 4.

Meanwhile, Song Lam Nghe An, Dong Thap and Khanh Hoa pocketed only one point after drawing against HCM City, Dong Tam Long An and Thanh Hoa, despite being hosts.

A match between defending champion Becamex Binh Duong and Hai Phong was postponed because Binh Duong was preparing for the AFC Champions League tomorrow.

In the lower level league, Vissai Ninh Binh tasted their second victory against Huda Hue city last Saturday after their personnel change.

New coach Nguyen Van Sy led his team to a 2-0 win to rank third after the fifth round of the First Division League.

John Batite stole a ball from Hue’s defender before making a strong straight shot that went right through goalkeeper Huu Quang’s hands, to open scoring at the 28th minute. It was all downhill from there.

At Ha Noi’s Hang Day Stadium, Hoa Phat Ha Noi drew with Quang Ngai.

Celestin Belebi pushed Hoa Phat Ha Noi ahead with a solo in the box only two minutes from the beginning whistle.

But the host failed to maintain their advantage. Quang Ngai tied the score at the 26th minute when Quan Huy won a ball that bounced back from one of his teammate’s shots. It was a piece of cake for Huy, who made the easiest goal of his career.

In other matches, Dong Nai Berjaya lost 0-1 to Sai Son United. Tien Giang defeated An Do An Giang 3-0. Can Tho trounced Tay Ninh 3-1 and Binh Dinh won 2-0 over Quang Ninh Coal.

The sixth round of the tournament will be held on March 21.

VietNamNet/Viet Nam News