Binh Duong still top despite draw

Becamex Binh Duong maintained top position in the V-League despite being held to draw by Hoang Anh Gia Lai in the 16th round yesterday, June 30.

 

 

Becamex Binh Duong (left) maintained top position in the V-League despite being held to draw by Hoang Anh Gia Lai in the 16th round yesterday. (Photo: VNN)

 

The leaders opened the score through substitute striker Nguyen Duc Thien’s angled shot but another substitute striker Marcelo Babieri equalised in injury time to earn a precious point for the visitors.

 

The draw meant Binh Duong retained top place but are only one point ahead of second-placed team Ha Noi T&T, who thrashed Dong Tam Long An 4-1 at Hang Day Stadium the same afternoon.

 

Dong Thap climbed to third place after an impressive away win over The Vissai Cement Ninh Binh, and stand on the same points but better goal difference over defending champions SHB Da Nang, who suffered a shock defeat at the hands of Khatoco Khanh Hoa.

 

At the bottom of the table, Navibank Sai Gon were hammered 4-1 at home by bottom team Megastar Nam Dinh.

 

Relegation

 

The result left the two bottom teams equal on 11 points, standing on the brink of relegation.

 

Elsewhere, hosts Hai Phong defeated Song Lam Nghe An 3-2, Dong Thap won away at Vissai Ninh Binh 3-0 while Lam Son Thanh Hoa also took all three points with a 2-1 win over Hoa Phat Ha Noi. "We completely deserved a point today. Our players stuck to the tactics and they were rewarded," Hoang Anh Gia Lai’s head coach Kiatisak Senamuang said.

 

"After few weeks’ rest, our players weren’t ready and seemed there seemed a lack of understanding between them," Binh Duong’s head coach Dang Tran Chinh said.

 

Binh Duong started the match without playmaker Lee Nguyen The Anh in the line-up.

 

After a scoreless first held, the home team continued to maintain their pressure on Hoang Anh Gia Lai in the early stages of the second half but misplaced passes and off-target shots prevented the home team from taking advantage of the many chances created.

 

Binh Duong eventually opened the scoring in the 69th minute, following a right-sided corner from Phong which was met by Abbey whose initial shot fell into Thien’s path who finished with a close-ranged angled shot.

 

Binh Duong dropped deep to defend their narrow lead and giving more possession to Hoang Anh Gia Lai, who despite taking the game to Binh Duong still had little to show in attack.

 

The visitors’ efforts were finally rewarded when a Babieri shot beat Nguyen The Anh in the second minute of injury time to earn Hoang Anh Gia Lai a point.

 

VietNamNet/Viet Nam News