HÀ NỘI — Hà Nội T&T jumped to the V. League’s second place after their 2-0 win over Đồng Tháp yesterday in an early match of the round 18.

Playing at home was a big advantage for the former champions whose goals came five minutes before the final whistle.

Gonzalo Damian Marronkle, who had missed a penalty kick in first half, opened the score with a strong header.

Hoàng Vũ Samson added the second one in the dying seconds with a straight shot.

Hà Nội T&T have 32 points, two less than the table topper Hải Phòng.

Đồng Tháp remain at the bottom after their 14th defeat.

Also yesterday, two-time champion Sông Lam Nghệ An beat Hoàng Anh Gia Lai 1-0. The only goal went to Odat Onoriode Marshal.

It was the first win after three losses in a row, helping Sông Lam Nghệ An run far away from the SOS group.

Hoàng Anh Gia Lai on the other hand maintained the third place from the bottom, just two points more than Long An who will play Sài Gòn FC today. In case of a win, Long An and Hoàng Anh Gia Lai will switch their standing.

But Long An are in trouble with naturalised striker Lê Văn Tân suffered an Achilles injury. He will rest till the end of the season.

Former national midfielder Huỳnh Tấn Tài will also need three more weeks to recover from the pain.

On the other hand, Sài Gòn FC’s captain Nguyễn Duy Long received two yellow cards in the last match and will remain at home when his team travels to Long An.

The team coach assistant Nguyễn Đức Thịnh will join him on the bench as he was banned for four matches.

A match between V. League leader Hải Phòng and Quảng Ninh Coal has been delayed by a day because of the storm and will be played tomorrow.

Despite not having his best players, coach Trương Việt Hoàng of Hải Phòng says the team is set to win the game although it has to play on an away ground.

A win is necessary for Hải Phòng after their humiliating 0-3 defeat to SHB Đà Nẵng last week.

That loss did not affect their No 1 position but narrowed their gap against other groups.

Tomorrow defenders Nguyễn Văn Nam and Nguyễn Anh Hùng will not play because of bans while their important midfielder Vũ Ngọc Thịnh has a torn knee ligament.

“I have my own plan to fill the holes that they left,” Hoàng said. He will also rest goalkeeper Đặng Văn Lâm in this match after his several mistakes in recent matches.

Đinh Xuân Việt will return to guard the goal, his usual position last season until round nine.

SHB Đà Nẵng will visit Gò Đậu Stadium, home to defending champions Becamex Bình Dương.

While the visitors are with their best players, Becamex Bình Dương will miss goal hunter Lê Công Vinh because of cards.

In this round, FLC Thanh Hóa will have executive director Lê Thụy Hải back from his ban.

But their key midfielder Ngô Hoàng Thịnh will sit in the stands as he has not played well because of a knee surgery he suffered in May.

Thanh Hóa will welcome Cần Thơ whose key players, goalkeeper Trần Bửu Ngọc, midfielders Nguyễn Hiếu Trung Anh, Nguyễn Văn Quân and striker Đinh Hoàng Max will be on the bench. — VNS