HÀ NỘI — SHB Đà Nẵng replaced FLC Thanh Hóa in V.League’s second place after winning their rival 2-1 in the round 14 match yesterday on their home ground.

Võ Huy Toàn and Sebastian Gaston Merlo scored for the hosts, while Thanh Hóa’s goal by Omar Faye was sandwiched in-between.

Anh Tuấn passed a smart ball to Toàn, who ran from outside the box and finished with a sure tap in.

Striker Toàn burst into tears after his opener, which ended his seven months without a goal.

“My disk herniation was worse than I thought. I was even thinking I might become paralysed, after doctors in Singapore said it was 50-50 if I took part in a surgery. I tried my best and, luckily, I can return to competition,” said Toàn after the game.

“I had to work hard for that day when I would be allowed on the field. And the goal came. It was happiness,” he said.

Merlo broke the off-side trap and was in a one-two position with goalkeeper Thanh Thắng. The Argentinean made no mistakes in bringing home another goal. It was his 10th goal at the league, helping him rank second on the best scorer list, just below leader Hoàng Vũ Samson of Hà Nội T&T.

Omar’s goal came in an easy situation, when SHB Đà Nẵng’s defenders loosened their attention for a moment, as the Senegalese striker converted a corner kick into a goal with a straight header.

FLC Thanh Hóa nearly had their equalizer in the additional time, when Đà Nẵng’s keeper,, Văn Hưng made a mistake choosing the wrong position, but defender Châu Lê Phước Vĩnh was in the right place to stop all Thanh Hóa’s strikers’ attempts.

With three points from this win, SHB Đà Nẵng has 27 points, two more than FLC Thanh Hóa, and replaced their rivals in the second position.

Hải Phòng remains the league leader after they came from behind to beat bottom-placed Đồng Tháp 3-2 at Lạch Tray Stadium.

Samson Kpenosen opened the scoring just 11 minutes into the game. His teammate, Nguyễn Thiện Chí, made it 2-0 15 minutes later, which became a perfect start for the visitors.

However, Hải Phòng proved how they could lead the tournament after 13 rounds.

Lê Xuân Hùng, Diago Fagan and Nguyễn Đình Bảo netted in the second half and helped Hải Phòng secure their 10th victory.

Sông Lam Nghệ An yesterday trounced Quảng Ninh Coal 4-0, their biggest win since the beginning of the tournament.

National Hồ Tuấn Tài scores a goal in each half; while the remaining two goals were scored by Tran Phi Son and Ouattara Baba Salia Affoloh, both in the second half.

Sông Lam Nghệ An then ran away from the red-light area with 18 points.

Quảng Ninh Coal, meanwhile, lost their fourth position to Hà Nội T&T, who were received one point from their 1-1 draw to Long An yesterday. Both sides have 23 points, but capital city has a better difference in goals, taking fourth place.

Meanwhile, Hoàng Anh Gia Lai foresaw their defeat in this round, as seven of their players in the first team could not play because of taking part in the ongoing national high school exam. The remaining team included injured members.

Coach Nguyễn Quốc Tuấn arranged a strange formation, as players were placed in unfamiliar positions.

This happened as the team of young players lost 1-2.

In other games, Sanna Khánh Hóa tied defending champions Becamex Bình Dương 1-1 and Quảng Nam drew Sài Gòn FC 3-3. -- VNS