Hà Nội’s Bùi Hoàng Việt Anh celebrates his goal against Bình Dương in the V.League 1 at the weekend. Photo toquoc.vn

Football

HÀ NỘI — The first phase of V.League 1 2022 has drawn to a close with dramatic matches creating fluctuations in the rankings.

A convincing 3-0 victory over Bình Dương at the weekend helped Hà Nội FC to record seven consecutive victories and go nine points ahead of second placed Sông Lam Nghệ An (SLNA).

A 2-1 victory against Thanh Hóa helped Bình Định Club return to fourth place in the rankings. Bình Định have the same 20 points as SLNA and Hải Phòng, but ranks behind because of the goal difference.

SLNA missed keeping up with Hà Nội in the race for the title after losing away to Viettel by two goals to nil. Hải Phòng secured an impressive victory at the Pleiku Stadium over Hoàng Anh Gia Lai to stay in third place.

At the bottom division, HCM City sealed an important 2-1 victory over Sài Gòn FC. With 12 points, HCM City leapfrogged Nam Định and (10 points) and Sài Gòn FC (seven points) to move to 11th.

The victory over Sài Gòn is the second and final match of coach Nguyễn Hữu Thắng for HCM City. He will make way for coach Trương Việt Hoàng, and then return to the position of president of the team.

"I discussed with Hoàng about the direction of the club, from the game play to the spirit," Thắng said.

"Hoàng will continue to work with the coaching staff to help HCM City play well,"

HCM City now have five points more than the bottom-placed team of Sài Gòn. HCM City needs a revolution in the second phase to be sure of staying in the league.

Hoàng is the fourth coach to lead HCM City under the chairmanship of Thắng, after Chung Hae-seong, Alexandre Polking and Trần Minh Chiến.

Hoàng did lead Viettel Club to win the V.League 1 2020 and help Hải Phòng to finish second in the 2016 football season. He is experienced in coaching teams in the national top flight, especially teams that don't have many stars. VNS