Football

Jefferson Alias of Viettel (second, left) celebrates after scoring in Viettel's 2-1 win over Hà Nội in the National Cup on July 6. — Photo of VPF

HÀ NỘI — Viettel holds its head up high after a 2-1 win over defending champions Hà Nội in the National Cup's last round on July 6 at the capital's Hàng Đẫy Stadium.

Midfielder Nguyễn Hoàng Đức scored 14 minutes into the game. His volley in the penalty area gave former national goalkeeper Bùi Tấn Trường no chance to save.

Phạm Tuấn Hải levelled the score for the defending champions at the 31st minute. The national forward took the ball and chipped it over the goalkeeper.

Viettel again got ahead in the 77th minute after Jefferson Alias's powerful straight shot found the back of the net.

Viettel won 2-1 and advanced to the quarter-finals, ousting Hà Nội.

In Quy Nhơn, TopenLand Bình Định defeated Quảng Nam 6-5 in the penalty shootout after their match ended 1-1 in the official time.

Keeper Đặng Văn Lâm was the hero of the team as he successfully denied two of Quảng Nam's shots.

Lâm was kept in the bench in most time of the game. He was put in the field for penalties only. And the national keeper proved his quality to push his team to the quarters where they will play Hồng Lĩnh Hà Tĩnh.

Hà Tĩnh beat Long An 3-1 in an ealier match.

Despite playing against a lower-level rival of the V.League 2, Hà Tĩnh could not get ahead in the first 45 minutes.

Coach Nguyễn Thành Công decided to field his key players in the second half and they gradually managed the match.

Vũ Quang Nam scored two goals in the 65th and 72nd minutes before Nguyễn Trung Học made it three in the 86th.

Long An's Lê Thanh Phong scored a goal in additional time. He took the ball after Hà Tĩnh's keeper Dương Tùng Lâm blocked a penalty kick of Nguyễn Trọng Phú.

In the last match of the day, Đông Á Thanh Hóa trounced Bà Rịa Vũng Tàu 4-0.

Trịnh Văn Lợi, Lê Văn Thắng, Doãn Ngọc Tân and Nguyễn Minh Tùng scored goals for the team which were given a bonus of VNĐ1 billion for the win.

They will next play V.Leauge 2 side Phù Đổng FC on July 10.

Speaking at the post-match briefing, coach Velizar Popov of Thanh Hóa said the National Cup was harder than V.League 1 so his team cannot afford to get complacent.

In this competition, no mistakes are accepted because of the knock-out rule. Thanh Hóa will totally focus on the quarter-finals. — VNS