AV.League Round 19 Review: HCM City escape bottom after precious win

ABO/NDO – The 19th round of the V.League 2018 last weekend saw Ho Chi Minh City enjoy a first win following a 13-match run of losses and draws. With XSKT Can Tho and Saigon FC missing out on a point, the victory over SHB Da Nang helped Toshiya Miura’s side to climb four places from bottom, sparking a positive outlook in avoiding relegation at the end of the season.

Manager Toshiya Miura celebrates after Ho Chi Minh City beat SHB Da Nang 4-2.

HCM City headed into the Saturday fixture under multiple pressures. They were forced to bag the full three points at Thong Nhat stadium to end a disappointing streak of 13 games without a win, thereby igniting their hopes for maintaining a spot in next year’s V.League.

It seemed that the scenario of the previous rounds was to be repeated for the southern team, as they trailed by two goals after the first 25 minutes before Dang Van Robert pulled back a goal for the home side a few minutes later. However, the game changed direction after the break, with forward Matias netting three goals in a row to seal a long-waiting 4-2 triumph for HCM City.

The significant win enabled Japanese tactician Toshiya Miura to temporarily breathe a sigh of relief, while working to boost HCM City’s confidence and spirit for the remaining stage of the V.League 2018, towards realising their relegation-escape goal.

HCM City’s victory became more precious as, at the same time, XSKT Can Tho and Saigon FC succumbed to respective 1-3 and 1-2 defeats at Hoang Anh Gia Lai and Sanna Khanh Hoa BVN, which pushed them down to 13th and 14th position in the provisional V.League table with 17 and 16 points, correspondingly.

Song Lam Nghe An went on to demonstrate an impressive form, edging out reigning champions Quang Nam FC with a score of 2-1, the seventh win in a row for the 2011 title holders. Manager Nguyen Duc Thang and Nghe An players have escaped out of their first-leg slump (as they used to sit bottom) to climb to fourth place and remain prepared to make the top three of the table, as they are now just one point away from third-placed FLC Thanh Hoa.

Thanh Hoa only managed to earn a home draw against Quang Ninh Coal last weekend. Failing to pocket the full three points, FLC Thanh Hoa’s position is seriously threatened by Song Lam Nghe An and Quang Ninh Coal, who are just one point behind. Meanwhile, their gap with second-placed Sanna Khanh Hoa BVN has been extended to four points, following the latter’s Round 9 win over Saigon FC.

The Nam Dinh FC – Hanoi FC clash produced the most shocking result of the 19th round, with newly promoted Nam Dinh playing out a 3-3 tie against the capital team, who are now firmly on top of the table with 48 points, 14 points clear of the closest team chasing behind.

(Source: NDO)