Football

HÀ NỘI – Thanh Hóa beat defending champions Bình Dương 3-0 in the 13^th round, last round of the first leg of V.League 1 at Gò Đậu Stadium on Saturday.

In the 21^st minute, after an attack from the right wing, Thanh Hóa’s striker Emmanuel Sunday crossed the ball into the penalty area for striker Hoàng Đình Tùng. Tùng failed to find the back of the net of Bình Dương, however, captain Pape Omar were present and walked over goalie Bùi Tấn Trường.

Bình Dương made many quick attacks to level the score but they encountered difficulties in reaching Thanh Hóa’s goal.

In the last two minutes of the second half, Thanh Hóa raised the score to 3-0 thanks to midfielder Hoàng Văn Bình and Tùng.

With this win, Thanh Hóa narrowed the gap with the leading team in the rankings, Hải Phòng, who lost to SHB Đà Nẵng 2-0 at Chi Lăng Stadium in this round.

It is the eighth time in a row Hải Phòng has lost to Đà Nẵng.

At Pleiku Stadium, the hosts Hoàng Anh Gia Lai were defeated by Quảng Nam 1-4. Goals were scored by Dos Reis R.Claudecir in the 30^th and 72^nd minute, Diao Sadio in the 41^st minute and Nguyễn Huy Hùng in injury time of the second half. Meanwhile, Vũ Văn Thanh had a goal for Gia Lai in the 43^rd minute.

At Vinh Stadium, Hà Nội T&T crushed Sông Lam Nghệ An 3-1. It’s the first time ever in the event’s first leg Hà Nội T&T beat Nghệ An.

Among other matches of the national premier league played on Saturday, Đồng Tháp tied with Sanna Khánh Hòa 1-1, Quảng Ninh Coal bested Long An 2-1 and Cần Thơ won against Sài Gòn FC 1-0.

After 13 rounds, with nine wins, two draws and two losses, Hải Phòng temporarily took the lead with 29 points, followed by Thanh Hóa with 25 points and Quảng Ninh with 20 points. — VNS