A 2-1 First Division win over Can Tho Saturday earned Ninh Binh a berth in the top-flight V-League next year four games before the end of the 2009 season.

Despite the defeat, Can Tho still remains only two points adrift of third-place Binh Dinh, who lost 0-1 to Tien Giang in the Mekong Delta province.

The third place squadron could still be promoted to the top-tier V-League in a playoff match with the V-League’s third-from-last place contenders.

In other matches on the day, Saigon United climbed one place north of the relegation zone after a 2-1 home win over bottom-feeders Quang Ngai at Thong Nhat Stadium.

But the game was marred by controversy when referee Kieu Viet Hung awarded Saigon United a penalty kick 10 minutes from time, ruling that a Quang Ngai defender had illegally tackled home team striker Cong Thao in the penalty box.

The visiting team protested and the coaches ordered their players to stop playing. The team walked out of the stadium five minutes later.

The First Division’s two last-place teams are relegated to non-league play every year.

V-League title to wait

Meanwhile, V-League club Da Nang has not yet grabbed the league championship after a 1-1 away draw with Dong Thap at Cao Lanh Stadium Sunday.

Da Nang is now 12 points clear of second-placed defending champs Binh Duong and needs just another draw to take the title.

In other matches, Binh Duong beat Khanh Hoa 4-1, Dong Tam Long An defeated Hoang Anh Gia Lai 3-0, The Cong lost 2-4 to Thanh Hoa and Nam Dinh beat Song Lam Nghe An 3-2.

On Sunday, Hai Phong will take on HCMC Club and Fourth Military Zone will encounter T&T Hanoi.

Reported by Thanh Nien staff