Da Nang Coach Le Huynh Duc joins young fans in celebrating their 2009 V- League championship.

Da Nang took the V-League title three rounds before the end of the season with a 2-1 home victory over Nam Dinh in the 23rd round at Chi Lang Stadium Sunday.

Coach Le Huynh Duc, mobbed by supporters and reporters, was short of breath as he answered the questions being asked non-stop.

After his players threw him up several times in the air, Duc said, “In my footballing and coaching career, this is the most unforgettable experience for me. This is my second championship after the first [A1 championship] I won with HCMC Police in 1995.

“I was in a strong team in 1995 and this year I have been strongly supported by the club managers and the city officials as well as my players with a burning desire. Most importantly, the strong passion and encouragement of home fans for the whole team have helped make this historic moment.”

This is the first V-League championship for the central city club since the league was established in 2001, with Song Lam Nghe An (SLNA) winning the first V-League championship and former Saigon Port (currently called HCMC Club) winning the second in 2002.

Hoang Anh Gia Lai (HAGL) grabbled it in 2003 and 2004, Dong Tam Long An (DTLA) took it in 2005 and 2006 and Binh Duong were champions in 2007 and 2008.

This is also the first time after 17 years Da Nang has won the championship of the top-flight football competition. In 1992, it won the national football title which was then called the A1 national championship. The A1 national championship was held from 1981 till 2000 before it became the V-League.

In the end, Da Nang’s championship came as no surprise because it had a strong contingent of good players that put it well ahead at the first half of the season with 27 points from 13 rounds, five points clear of second-placed HAGL.

In recent rounds, Binh Duong and SLNA tried in vain to close in on Da Nang while 2005-06 champs DTLA and 2003-04 champs HAGL struggled in the middle and lower part of the table.

T&T Hanoi and SLNA on Sunday took 3-2 and 1-0 home wins at Hang Day and Vinh stadiums over Binh Duong and Dong Thap respectively and climbed two places to rank second and third. Binh Duong fell two places to fourth but Dong Thap remained in seventh place.

It has been an impressive showing by T&T Hanoi as they started the second half at the bottom with just 12 points.

In other action, Hai Phong lost 0-1 to Khatoco Khanh Hoa at Nha Trang Stadium and fell two places to fifth while its rival moved up one place to eighth.

HAGL was held to a 1-1 home draw with The Cong at Pleiku Stadium; and Fourth Military Zone came back from a goal down to take a 2-1 away win over Thanh Hoa at Thanh Hoa Stadium.

Thanh Hoa is very likely to be relegated to the second-tier First Division as it is at the bottom with 19 points, seven points adrift of HCMC Club and Fourth Military Zone. HAGL and Nam Dinh are only two points clear of the two teams.

If HAGL continues to play poorly at home against arch rivals HCMC Club and Fourth Military Zone on Wednesday and Sunday, the 2003-04 champs are likely to be relegated.

Reported by Tuan Phan - Chu Thien