HÀ NỘI — Quảng Ninh Coal jumped to the top of V.League after their 3-1 win over Hoàng Anh Gia Lai in the rain yesterday.

It was their most important victory, as they are one of the top four teams vying for the title of the national premier league, which has three rounds remaining.

Quảng Ninh were in the third position prior to yesterday’s matches. While they won, two teams in higher positions – Hải Phòng and SHB Đà Nẵng – suffered unexpected losses, while fourth-placed Hà Nội T&T defeated Sài Gòn to move into second place.

Nghiêm Xuân Tú opened the scoring for Quảng Ninh at the 31st minute with a penalty kick. The host squad needed nine minutes to double the score with Mạc Hồng Quân, whose technical finished from the 16.50m line and went straight into the net.

Russian Dyachenko Rodion Sergey netted his 12th goal of the tournament in the second half when his team dominated the game, which was strongly affected by the rain.

Hoàng Anh Gia Lai could only narrow the score with a goal by national U21 member Nguyễn Văn Toàn in the additional time, after he converted a mistake by Quảng Ninh’s defence into a goal.

Quảng Ninh have 43 points, two more than Hà Nội T&T.

They will next meet FLC Thanh Hóa on September 4.

Thanh Hóa maintained the fifth position after their 4-2 win over Đồng Tháp on Saturday.

Playing on Cần Thơ ground, Hải Phòng went ahead with Stefen’s goal just three minutes into the match.

However, Cần Thơ fought back strongly with three goals, including two in the first half and one in the second, to take the lead.

Nguyễn Đình Bảo netted the second goal for Hải Phòng at the 65th mark, but it was not enough to save his team from losing leading position.

They dropped two positions to No 3 with 41 points.

It was the second time Hải Phòng lost their lead this year.

Meanwhile, SHB Đà Nẵng were defeated 1-3 by Sanna Khánh Hòa, also on away ground.

The loss pushed the former champions to No 4 with 40 points.

All four leading teams still have a chance to win this year’s tournament, as the gap between them can be changed with only a draw in the next round.

In another match, reigning champions Becamex Bình Dương came from behind to beat Long An 3-2. The third win in a row lifted them to the seventh position, but they no longer can defend their title.

Earlier, former winner Sông Lam Nghệ An lost 0-2 to Quảng Nam. It was the third match that Nghệ An have not won.

Quảng Nam, however, won after two defeats in a row. — VNS