Noguiera Jackson (front, C) doubles the score for Ho Chi Minh City Club, keeping its hopes of avoiding relegation alive

HCMC Club kept its hopes of avoiding relegation alive after a 2-0 home win over Dong Tam Long An (DTLA) in an early V-League 23rd round match at Thong Nhat Stadium Saturday.

DTLA had more possession of the ball but their strikers were ineffective, and the Mekong Delta team did not get many clear scoring chances.

Meanwhile, Maguire’s opener after only 13 minutes lifted the home team’s spirits, which motivated them and discouraged their rivals.

In the second half, DTLA made some changes but the front line continued to be ineffective. With the defenders moving too far up to attack and apply pressure, the home team found an opportunity to double the score just three minutes after halftime, benefiting from a clumsy defense by Brazilian-Vietnamese goalkeeper Phan Van Santos.

HCMC Club is now only one point adrift of 11th placed Hoang Anh Gia Lai (HAGL) and two points below Nam Dinh and Khanh Hoa in 10th and ninth spots.

In the second-tier First Division, fourth-placed Binh Dinh took a 1-0 home win at Quy Nhon Stadium over Ninh Binh, who has already won a berth in the top-flight V-League.

The win was very important for Binh Dinh because it now has 34 points, the same as third placed Can Tho, who drew 2-2 at home with second-placed Hoa Phat Hanoi.

Binh Dinh and Can Tho are now fighting for third place, which means a play-off match against V-League’s thirdfrom-bottom team for a berth in V-League next season.

In other matches, Tien Giang beat Huda Hue city 1-0, Tay Ninh drew 1-1 with Hanoi ACB, An Giang drew 2-2 with Quang Ninh and Saigon United beat Quang Nam 3-1.

The victory helped Saigon United go on par with Quang Nam at 18 points, keeping up hopes of avoiding relegation.

Both the V-League and First Division seasons have three more rounds to go after this weekend.

Reported by Thanh Nien staff