Football

HÀ NỘI — Two former football champions, Sông Lam Nghệ An and Becamex Bình Dương, will face-off in the final of the National Cup, after both teams won their semi-final matches yesterday.

Sông Lam Nghệ An tied with Quảng Nam with a score of 3-3 in the second leg of their semi-final, winning 7-4 on aggregate while Bình Dương defeated SHB Đà Nẵng 2-1 yesterday, winning 5-2 on aggregate.

Sông Lam Nghệ An travelled to Quảng Nam confident about winning their match, after they won the first leg by 4-1.

Despite being the away team, the Sông Lam Nghệ An players were the ones who set pace and they took the lead through a 27th minute opener by Nigerian striker Olaha Michael.

From a counter-attack, Trần Phi Sơn left Quảng Nam’s defenders behind before passing the ball to Olaha in the penalty box, and the striker controlled the ball and turned to tap it into the net from close range, with goalkeeper Văn Cường just failing to save.

The hosts were under immense pressure as they needed to score at least four goals to level the results of the two legs, but their coach, Hoàng Văn Phúc, and his players did not give up, and the striker, Đại Dương, was sent to the field to strengthen their front line. 

The tactic subsequently worked, as Kovacevic Claudecir levelled the score just two minutes after the break with a penalty.

However, three minutes later, the visitors again led, by a score of 2-1.

Sơn once again lost the Quảng Nam defenders and passed a dangerous ball to Danko, who faced Cường in goal one-on-one, and the Montenegro player did not miss his shot.

Sông Lam Nghệ An then wasted many opportunities to increase his team’s score, before they conceded a second goal.

Phan Thanh Hưng broke into the Sông Lam Nghệ An box to meet a free kick in the 80th minute, and his powerful and straight header gave the keeper no chance.

In the last 10 minutes, Quảng Nam created consecutive opportunities to score more goals, but at the expense of their defence.

Sơn counter-attacked and passed to substitute striker Hồ Phúc Tịnh, who finished from a narrow angle to make the score 3-2 for the visitors.

However, Quảng Nam proved their fighting spirit, with the third goal by Nguyễn Văn Hậu, which he scored in the far corner of the goal after receiving a smart pass from captain Đinh Thanh Trung.

In the second leg of the second semi-final match, striker Nguyễn Anh Đức netted a goal for his club, Becamex Bình Dương, before joining the national team for the first time after many years of absence.

Earlier, SHB Đà Nẵng opened the score with a header by Đỗ Merlo in the 21st minute.

Becamex Bình Dương took seven minutes to find the equaliser, when Tô Văn Vũ burst through from the right wing into the box and netted, for a score of 1-1.

Five minutes later, Đức converted a penalty for his team’s second goal, his fifth goal at the tournament.

In the second half, Becamex Bình Dương had to play with 10 men after Tấn Tài was sent off.

However, Đà Nẵng could not make their advantage count and scored no further goals in the match.

Đức and Quế Ngọc Hải of Sông Lam Nghệ An will fly to Hà Nội to meet their national teammates and coaches, to prepare for their Asian Cup qualifier next week.

Next month, they will face each other while playing for opposing teams in the two-leg National Cup final, to be held on 25th and 30th November. — VNS