HÀ NỘI — Becamex Bình Dương are struggling in the V. League, as notwithstanding their defending champion status they are trailing far behind in the rankings after 15 rounds.

They will play Quảng Ninh Coal today without No 1 goalkeeper Trần Đức Cường.

Becamex Bình Dương have only two points from five recent matches. They are now 9 out of 14 teams, with 13 points less than leader Hải Phòng. They are among six teams who have suffered the most number of 21 goal losses in the tournament.

They also face with a manpower crisis with striker Oloya Moses moving to play in Russia, midfielder Nguyễn Trọng Hoàng being sidelined, while some of the others are facing health problems.

Cường suffered a knee injury while training recently, giving up his place to former national keeper Bùi Tấn Trường, who has made numerous errors during the rare chances he has received to play.

In his latest appearance last weekend Becamex Bình Dương lost 4-5 to Hà Nội T&T.

After the match which saw Trường’s two serious mistakes resulting in two goals for Hà Nội T&T, coach Nguyễn Thanh Sơn said Trường would no longer be a part of his plan.

However, Sơn has to trust his team’s fate on Trường today because his third goalie Tuấn Vũ is too young and unexperienced to work.

“Cường is injured, and Vũ has just come to us from the U-19 squad. Trường is our only choice. I hope that his recent mistakes were an aberration and he will not repeat them,” Sơn said yesterday.

Meanwhile, in the Quảng Ninh Coal side, their coach Phan Thanh Hùng also has his headaches with his key midfielder Nguyễn Huy Cường and Lê Tuấn Tú banned because of red cards.

Strikers Trịnh Hoa Hùng and Nguyễn Quang Hải could not make the team because of injuries and will be out of contention for a long time.

His best striker Vũ Minh Tuấn is not at his best due to a sprain.

In the first leg match, Becamex Bình Dương lost 1-2 on away ground, at the Cẩm Phả Stadium.

Elsewhere, rich team FLC Thanh Hóa are visiting Long An without their banned executive director Lê Thụy Hải.

Their strikers Ngô Hoàng Thịnh and Lưu Văn Hương are on the bench because of yellow cards. Meanwhile, Long An’s foreigner Marko Simic may not play due to his injuries.

Hà Nội T&T are on the right track to return to the top three while their rivals Hoàng Anh Gia Lai are near the bottom of the ranking. They will meet tomorrow in the Central Highland City of Pleiku.

Leader Hải Phòng will travel to HCM City to play Sài Gòn FC while former champions SHB Đà Nẵng will host Cần Thơ.

Two-time winners Sông Lam Nghệ An will entertain Sanna Khánh Hòa, and bottom-placed Đồng Tháp will meet Quảng Nam. — VNS