Toyota V-League 2016 Round 15: Hai Phong consolidate top spot

The last four games in round 15 of the Toyota V-League 2016 took place on late July 10, seeing hosts Saigon FC narrowly defeat Song Lam Nghe An 1-0 in the last minutes of play at Thong Nhat Stadium in Ho Chi Minh City.

Carlos Lima (right) scores the only goal to earn his home team Saigon FC a narrow win 1-0 against Song Lam Nghe An during their clash at Thong Nhat Stadium on July 10. (Credit: thethaovanhoa.vn)

The visitors played offensively right from the start in the hopes of an early goal, however, Nghe An players were unable to convert their chances into goals due to a lack of sharp and precise finishes.

Meanwhile, Saigon FC played defensively and waited for counterattacks with long strikes into the penalty area or shots from distance. After the goalless first half, in the second half, the home team gradually regained the match and organised more attacks to bombard the visitors’ goal.

It was not until a few minutes before the game ended, Saigon FC’s efforts turned out. Taking advantage of Nghe An’s defensive line mistake, Carlos Lima netted a goal from a header to score the only goal of the match for Saigon.

* Playing table leaders Hai Phong at Pleiku Stadium, hosts Hoang Anh Gia Lai scored the opening goal in the 59th minute after a guest player had to leave the pitch due to receiving a second yellow card. Ideguchi’s close header from a favourable cross gifted Gia Lai with a 1-0 lead.

After the opener, the home team continued to increase pressure to widen the gap but they were unable to punch through Hai Phong’s heavy defense line. In the 81st minute, taking advantage of mistakes by Gia Lai’s keeper and defenders, Van Thang scored the equaliser to make it 1-1 for the visitors.

* The same day, hosts Dong Thap lost 1-2 to XSKT Can Tho at Cao Lanh Stadium while FLC Thanh Hoa tied with QNK Quang Nam during a ‘rain of goals’ with eight goals scored at Thanh Hoa Stadium.

* In other matches on Saturday, Quang Ninh Coal earned a 3-2 win over SHB Da Nang, Becamex Binh Duong lost 4-5 to Hanoi T&T, and Long An crushed Sanna Khanh Hoa BVN with a score of 2-1.

With the results from played matches, Saigon FC team has a total of 23 points, ranked seventh while Nghe An stands still at No. 11 with 18 points. Gia Lai rose to No. 12 with 12 points. Hai Phong grasped the top spot with 33 points, six points more than the second place SHB Da Nang.

(Source: NDO)