Da Nang continued taking huge strides toward the 2009 V-League Championship title, following up their away victory over Hai Phong with a 2- 1 home win over T&T Hanoi in the tournament’s 15th round Wednesday.

Hong Minh pulled one goal back for the visitors one minute from time after a mix-up in Da Nang’s penalty area.

The victory secured Da Nang’s top spot with 33 points, nine points clear of second-placed Song Lam Nghe An (SLNA) who were held to a 2-2 away draw by Khatoco Khanh Hoa.

The match between Khanh Hoa and SLNA at Nha Trang Stadium was held up for a while when the lights went off in the 86th minute with the score at 2- 2. It was also raining then.

After pausing the match for a minute and talking with the coaching staff of the two teams, referee Phung

Dinh Dung restarted the match in the dark, and just a minute later blew the final whistle to end the match, surprising the spectators.

It was an incorrect decision because professional football rules say that if a match is stopped for some reason and can’t restart after 30 minutes, the organizing board will make a decision.

In this case, the referee restarted the match when there was not enough light in the stadium.

The clash between last week’s second-placed Hoang Anh Gia Lai (HAGL) and HCMC Club at Pleiku Stadium was canceled because five players of the home team were hospitalized because of flu and the Central Highlands province’s People’s Committee wanted to ensure the safety of other people.

Defending champs Binh Duong had a tough time in beating newly promoted Dong Thap 4-3 at Go Dau Stadium.

Binh Duong took the lead after three minutes with a goal by newcomer Nkanmi but Dong Thap’s Quy Suu and Duoc Em made it 2-1 before half-time.

Binh Duong coach Mai Duc Chung made some important changes in the second half, and these paid off as Kesley, Mababazi and Hoang Vuong struck to make the score 4-2 for the home team. Van Nghia reduced the margin for the visitors during injury time.

Dong Thap striker Timothy Anjembe rushed up to referee Duong Van Hien, clapped his hands continuously and took off his shirt to throw at the referee when he was given the second yellow card in the 79th minute. This unsportsmanlike conduct should be further considered by the league organizing committee for imposing additional penalties.

In other matches, Thanh Hoa lost 0- 1 to Nam Dinh, the Fourth Military Zone lost 1-4 to Dong Tam Long An and The Cong defeated Hai Phong 2-1.

After the match at Hang Day Stadium, Hai Phong fans clashed with security guards and caused a riot outside, and the police had to be called to settle the problem.

Reported by Thanh Nien staff