BÌNH DƯƠNG — Becamex Bình Dương secured a convincing 3-1 victory yesterday at home against Sanna Khánh Hòa with goals from Oloya Moses (31’), Nguyễn Anh Đức (42’) and Trần Duy Khánh (86’).

Bình Dương’s triumph put them third in the V-League. After five games the southern team is sitting on 10 points, behind second place Đà Nẵng with 12 points and first place Hải Phòng with 15 points.

They also avenged their two losses against Khánh Hòa last season in a one-sided match in which the visitors only managed score a consolation goal in the dying minutes.

The victory may provide the team with a much needed morale boost before their away game against Jiangsu FC (China) on April 20 in their fifth game of the AFC Champion League 2016.

Khánh Hòa’s defeat leaves the team sixth in the V-League with just nine points after six matches. 

Việt Nam National Team coach Nguyễn Hữu Thắng was seen at the stadium watching players from both sides for his next squad.

Big spenders                                                                                          

Big money contracts have helped Cần Thơ fly high in the V.League this season. The southern team will be looking to their high-paid players to lift their team during their visit to Hoàng Anh Gia Lai tomorrow.

The club spent some VNĐ20 billion (US$890,000) on 13 new players before the season. Among them, Patiyo Tambwe was top scorer in 2015’s competition when playing for Quang Nam, Nguyễn Quang Tình was a key player for former champions Sông Lam Nghệ An, while Đinh Tiến Thành and Nguyễn Hải Anh are both former national team players.

Tambwe and Tình have scored half of Cần Thơ’s eight goals after five matches. After three wins in a row, Cần Thơ sits fourth in the table.

However, they have struggled away from home, losing to both Becamex Bình Dương and Hải Phòng in away fixtures.

“I respect Hoàng Anh Gia Lai, which is home to young players who received renowned training. In the coming match they have the home advantage. But our target is to take points from this match. For sure, we should not let them score first,” said coach Vũ Quang Bảo.

Although ninth placed Hoàng Anh Gia Lai have failed to win in their last four games, new striker Moreira Jesuino Osmar Francisco is a threat to any team.

The Brazilian scored two goals in his debut against Hải Phòng last week. Despite Hoàng Anh Gia Lai’s loss, Francisco performed impressively.

In a post-match briefing, HAGL coach Nguyễn Quốc Tuấn said he was pleased with Francisco’s performance and hoped he could repeat the performance.

Tuấn has consistently had problems in defence, which he has not overcome in the past two seasons.

His young players were not experienced enough to face powerful foreign strikers, while others, such as Nguyễn Hữu Đông Triều and Thân Toàn Thắng, have not recovered from injuries.

While veteran centre-back Dương Văn Pho has been signed, on his own he might not offer much help.

Coach Tuấn also faces new injury headaches as strikers, Bùi Văn Long, Bùi Trần Vũ, Lê Đức Lương, and goalkeeper Tô Vĩnh Lợi might not play because of injuries.

“Cần Thơ’s foreign strikers are very strong. They also have speed and are good in the air. I am afraid of Tambwe, who could score a decisive goal in any match,” Tuấn said.

Last season, Cần Thơ beat Hoàng Anh Gia Lai 3-1 in their first meeting, with the sides drawing 1-1 in the return game.

In another league match, Hải Phòng will travel south to play Đồng Tháp, who sit second from bottom in the table.

Leaders Hải Phòng will be looking for their sixth win in a row, close to a new record for consecutive victories. Hoàng Anh Gia Lai hold the record with seven wins in 2004.

Elsewhere, Long An will host troubled Hà Nội T&T; Quảng Ninh Coal will welcome Sông Lam Nghệ An; FLC Thanh Hóa will entertain former winners SHB Đà Nẵng and Quảng Nam will visit Sài Gòn FC. – VNS