V-League leaders Da Nang held on to their top spot after a 1-1 home draw with reigning champs Binh Duong, while newly-promoted Dong Thap hammered strong rivals The Cong 5-0 in eighth round matches Sunday.

Da Nang had more ball possession but were not superior while Binh Duong were dangerous with their counterattack. Defender Hoang Vuong scored the equalizer in the 26th minute after Da Nang’s goalie Van Hanh failed to hold onto the ball. Da Nang remains atop the league while Binh Duong is in fifth place.

A brace by Nigerian Anjembe Timothy helped Dong Thap, considered one of the clubs likely to be relegated to the First Division at the end of the season, thrash The Cong, which has a long history as a good team. The win took Dong Thap two places up to third and pushed The Cong down three places to seventh.

Central club Khanh Hoa remained in second place after a 1-0 home victory at Nha Trang Stadium over the wealthy Central Highlands club Hoang Anh Gia Lai (HAGL). The loss pulled the 2003 and 2004 champions four places down to tenth.

At the Thanh Hoa Stadium in the north, Thanh Hoa drew 1-1 at home with Dong Tam Long An (DTLA). Dong Tam Long An conceded the opener after 27 minutes and the 2005 and 2006 champs managed the equalizer just nine minutes from time. The draw kept Thanh Hoa at the bottom and pulled DTLA to the 12th spot from the eighth.

Striker Le Cong Vinh’s excellent performance earned T&T Hanoi a 2-1 home win over Nam Dinh at the Hang Day Stadium. T&T Hanoi moved two places up to eighth while Nam Dinh dropped from seventh to ninth.

Striker Pham Van Quyen’s effort at Vinh Stadium helped Song Lam Nghe An to a 1-0 win over visitors Hai Phong. Song Lam Nghe An climbed from ninth to sixth while Hai Phong fell deeper into the relegation zone.

In Ho Chi Minh City, HCMC Club beat Fourth Military Zone 1-0 at Thong Nhat Stadium to jump off the relegation zone while their opponents dropped from third to fourth place.

By Thanh Nien staff