LookAtVietnam – Thanh Hoa fans could only be disappointed when their team was relegated to play in the First Division next season after their loss again yesterday, August 9.

Hands up: Coach Nguyen Thanh Vinh of Hoa Phat Ha Noi is thrown in the air by his players after the team secures a berth in the V-League next season.

There had been a chance Thanh Hoa could stay in the V-League, if they had won all three matches. However, the chance seemed slim given their strong rivals.

Thanh Hoa players did not put up much in the way of opposition to their rivals and played as if they had already given up. Binh Duong, the former V-League champion, easily won the match.

Philani scored for Binh Duong off a header at the end of the first half after a perfect corner kick by national team member Vu Phong.

The score was doubled at the last minute with a penalty kick by Helio.

The three next-to-bottom teams Military Zone 4, Nam Dinh and HCM City are still striving to escape from the risky position that would relegate one of them to the First Division.

HCM City saw the best advance when they won 3-2 over Dong Thap yesterday. The team is now at 10 out of 14 team with 31 points.

With a 0-2 failure to Hoang Anh Gia Lai, Nam Dinh were one spot lower with 28 points. Military Zone 4 luckily grabbed one point from a draw with The Cong and now have 27 points.

The teams stand an equal chance of going down with Thanh Hoa, if they lose in the two rounds ahead.

Also yesterday, new champion Da Nang were defeated 0-2 by Song Lam Nghe An. Da Nang players, who were still celebrating their early victory failed to resist a team with strong defence and skilled offence.

Song Lam Nghe An needed only seven minutes to have Trong Hoang score an opening goal; Din Akame doubled the score 10 minutes after the break.

Da Nang tried their best to come back, but failed.

Return to home

Hoa Phat Ha Noi will be the second team to be bumped back up into the V-League next year. After trouncing An Do An Giang 5-0 on Saturday, Hoa Phat confirmed their return to the national premier league after one year.

Coach Nguyen Thanh Vinh and his players celebrated their victory immediately after the match.

“It is my happiest moment. Hoa Phat, who do not include the strongest players, have met with many difficulties during the season. But we finally succeeded,” said Vinh.

Despite happiness, the coach has already thought about challenges when his team is back in the V-League.

“Hoa Phat need more support to gain real power. We will have a big change in human force and will add some foreigners to the lineup. The coaching board will discuss to have the best solution,” he said.

VietNamNet/Viet Nam News