Football

HÀ NỘI — Hà Nội T&T scored the biggest win at the 12th round match of the V.League, returning to play after nearly one month off for the national teams.

The capital city team defeated Hoàng Anh Gia Lai 3-0 to improve their standing position. With 19 points, they are at No 6, just two points away from reaching the top three.

Hoàng Vũ Olaleye Samson opened the scoring at the 34th minute, for his ninth goal of the season and placing him atop the best scorer list.

Nguyễn Văn Quyết added another goal 12 minutes after the interval, and Gonzalo Marronkle added a third in the 83rd minute with a penalty shootout.

Meanwhile, Hoàng Anh Gia Lai tested their new contract’s Junior Paraiba in this match, but the Brazilian’s debut was not an impressive performance, leaving nothing special to the match.

Coach Nguyễn Quốc Tuấn of Hoàng Anh Gia Lai evaluated Quyết, noting that the national midfielder was one of the best players, as he created threatening chances for the hosts.

Tuấn also attributed his team’s loss to the inexperience of young players, adding that their target is to stay with the V.League.

Despite the big win, coach Chu Đình Nghiêm did not blame his players’ poor and subjective start, which gave space for Hoàng Anh Gia Lai to dominate the first quarter.

Quảng Ninh Coal stopped reigning champions Becamex Bình Dương, while on their way to defend their title with a 2-1 win on their home turf at Cẩm Phả Stadium.

Nghiêm Xuân Tú pushed his team ahead with a straight goal 30 minutes from time, while teammate Vũ Minh Tuấn added another goal near the end of the match.

Becamex Bình Dương’s only goal by Trịnh  Quang Vinh was sandwiched between the hosts after captain Nguyễn Anh Đức missed a chance when his penalty shootout went wide.

Becamex Bình Dương lost their third position after the defeat and are now in fifth with 19 points.

Quảng Ninh Coal grabbed three more points and jumped to forth position.

Leader Hải Phòng took their second draw of the season after a 1-1 match against Sài Gòn FC, despite their home ground advantage.

Hải Phòng’s Errol Anthony Stevens netted his seventh goal to enter the top three among the best scorers.

Also, Sài Gòn’s Trần Hữu Thắng left the host fans five minutes to enjoy the goal, before he made the equaliser.

The draw meant that Hải Phòng’s gap with runner-up FLC Thanh Hóa was narrowed, after the latter defeated Long An 2-1 yesterday.

However, with 29 points, seven more than Thanh Hóa, Hải Phòng has little to be concerned about, at present.

Sebastian Gaston Merlo of SHB Đà Nẵng is the second best forward, after 12 matches, as he scored a double in yesterday’s 2-1 game over Cần Thơ.

In other matches, Sanna Khánh Hòa came from behind to tie former champions Sông Lam Nghệ An 2-2, and bottom-placed Đồng Tháp fell deeper, as they lost their 11th game to Quảng Nam. — VNS