LookAtVietnam – Brazilian-born goalie Fabio Dos Santos of Dong Tam Long An scored a goal from a 30m free kick in a 3-0 triumph over two-time champions Hoang Anh Gia Lai in the 22nd round of the national V-League on Saturday.

In form: Goalkeeper Fabio Dos Santos of Dong Tam Long An.

The 1.98m goalkeeper, who was the first foreign footballer granted Vietnamese citizenship to take a Vietnamese name, Phan Van Santos, has beaten opponent keepers with his cannon free kicks in the V-League for the past three years.

The Brazilian player is still the only goalie in Vietnamese football championships to score a goal from a spot kick.

The 32-year-old Brazilian was also called by Henrique Calisto to the national squad’s practice before the ASEAN football championship last December.

Bolima scored the first goal just eight minutes into the game and helped Long An lead before Santos netted his perfect shot in the 31st minute.

Bolima then completed a convincing win with his second goal in the game just 10 minutes after the break.

Defending champions Binh Duong were still breathing down Da Nang’s neck in the table as they crushed Khanh Hoa 4-1 on Saturday to narrow the gap with Da Nang.

Binh Duong gained 34 points, 11 points less than leaders Da Nang, who were held to a 1-1 draw by Dong Thap away from their home turf.

Da Nang only need one win to take the trophy early, as the championship has four games left before it closes.

The Cong, or Army team, tasted bitter defeat for the second time in a row when they were demolished 4-2 by visitors Thanh Hoa, who face the danger of relegation this year, as they are in last place.

At Thien Truong Stadium on Saturday, hosts Nam Dinh edged Song Lam Nghe An 3-2.

In late matches played yesterday, Military Zone 4 lost to T&T Ha Noi 1-0, while Hai Phong Cement beat HCM City 1-0.

Ninh Binh promoted

In the lower League, First Division, coach Nguyen Van Sy and his crew at Ninh Binh celebrated their 2-1 win over Can Tho, which promoted them to the V-League, starting next year.

It was the second glorious victory for the 38-year-old coach since he bagged a bronze medal for the Viet Nam team at the Southeast Asian Football Championship in Indonesia seven years ago.

The win in the 22nd round of the First Division helped Ninh Binh head to the top of the table with 53 points, 11 points clear of runners-up Hoa Phat Ha Noi, and enough for them secure a berth in the V-League next year.

Hoa Phat and Binh Dinh, who placed second and third, respectively, will have to go all out and play hard to secure a second ticket for the premier V-League next year.

VietNamNet/Viet Nam News