Football

Midfielder Nguyễn Hai Long of Hà Nội (left) kicks a ball to score during the V.League 1 match between Hà Nội and HCM City on Saturday at Hàng Đẫy Stadium. Hà Nội won 3-1. Photos courtesy of VPF

HÀ NỘI — Daiki Iwamasa pocketed his first win five weeks after taking charge of Hà Nội FC on Saturday at the Hàng Đẫy Stadium.

The former champion defeated 10-man HCM City 3-1 to jump up to the middle of the ranking table, maintaining their opportunity to vie for the national premier league trophy.

HCM City suffered a big loss when Ivorian forward Cheick Aymar Timité was sent off after his headbutt against Brandon Wilson just three minutes into the game.

The host side converted their advantage into lead at the 15th minute.

Captain Nguyễn Văn Quyết sent a perfect ball to Deni Jr. who headed home to open the score.

About 20 minutes later Phạm Xuân Mạnh found the back of HCM City's net but he was in offside trap.

Hà Nội were in comfortable condition in the second half before young midfielder Nguyễn Hai Long made it 2-0 in the 69th minute.

HCM City tried hard to fight back and narrowed the score in the 87th when Brendan Lucas left three Hà Nội defenders behind to beat goalkeeper Quan Văn Chuẩn.

It was an end for HCM City when captain Quyết scored at the fourth minute of additional time.

The win helped Hà Nội replace HCM City at sixth place with 13 points, narrowing the gap with the top three teams.

"The red card was a big problem for us. It strongly affected our plan and tactics," said coach Phùng Thanh Phương of HCM City, which now stand at seventh.

"After two games in the North, we have suffered big loss as players were sent off. We will have to work out a solution finding better foreign players when the transfer market opens.

"We need to have new factors that could make our front line better.”

On the other side, Iwamasa said he felt easy after the win but his club still needed improvement.

"There are some issues that I don't like. I will make up a different style for the team and fix our problem," he said.

Hà Đức Chinh of Bình Định seen in action during the V.League 1 match between Bình Định and Nam Định. Bình Định won 2-1.

In the earlier match, leader Nam Định received a 2-1 defeat from host Bình Định at the Quy Nhơn Stadium.

Brazilian Rafaelson Bezerra Fernandes opened the score for the visiting side in the 22nd minute. His country fellow Leonardo Artur and Vietnamese Hà Đức Chinh fought back for Bình Định at the 42nd and 52nd minutes.

Coach Lê Hồng Việt pushed his players to find an equaliser but despite several opportunities they could not complete the mission.

Nam Định are still in top place but they have only one point more than second-placed Thanh Hóa which beat Hải Phòng 3-2 on Friday.

Bình Định are at fourth with only a one-point gap with the top three.

In other matches, LPBank Hoàng Anh Gia Lai maintained at the bottom position after a goalless match against Quảng Nam 0-0;

Hồng Lĩnh Hà Tĩnh beat Khánh Hòa 1-0 and escaped from the bottom three area.

Playing in Vinh, Sông Lam Nghệ An were defeated by reigning champion Hà Nội Police.

Thể Công-Viettel suffered their fifth loss of the season after being punished by a strike of Becamex Bình Dương's Congolese Ibara Doniama Prince Vinny in early time at Hàng Đẫy.

While Bình Dương entered the top three and became a candidate for the winning title, Thể Công dropped to bottom three and needed strong effort to get back. VNS