HÀ NỘI — Coach Chu Đình Nghiêm of Hà Nội FC affirmed that his team expects to earn three points in their match with FLC Thanh Hóa, in the National Premier League tomorrow.

After 20 rounds, Thanh Hóa are currently on 37 points, ranking first out of 14 teams, while Hà Nội are second with 35 points. The team that wins tomorrow’s match will have a considerable advantage in the race to win the title.

Hà Nội are the defending champions and will make every effort to defend their title.

“Thanh Hóa is now on top the rankings and they have the best opportunity to take the title. If we want to compete with them, we must, therefore, win our upcoming match,” Nghiêm said.

According to Nghiêm, Hà Nội will play tomorrow with their first choice line-up. Midfielder Nguyễn Văn Quyết is expected to shine in the game. He scored a goal in the match between Việt Nam and China in the 2019 Asian Cup qualifier that was held at the Mỹ Đình National Stadium on 10th October, which Việt Nam won 5-0.

Thanh Hóa previously lost to Hà Nội 1-2 in their league match in March.

Another match drawing the attention of the nation’s fans is the battle between two top-five teams, Sài Gòn and Sanna Khánh Hòa.

Sài Gòn are fifth in the league with 32 points while Khánh Hòa are fourth with 33 points.

The gap between these two teams and the top team, Thanh Hóa, is considerable, and a loss in the match for either team will effectively end their title hopes.

In their first-leg match, Sài Gòn tied 0-0 with Khánh Hòa, so the upcoming match is expected to be fierce and competitive.

Elsewhere in the league, Hoàng Anh Gia Lai, HAGL, will face Sông Lam Nghệ An, SLNA, today.

The two sides were previously competitive but are now struggling and not playing well.

HAGL were the league winners in 2003 and 2004 and ranked third in the tournament in 2007 and 2013 while SLNA won the title in 2000, 2001 and 2011.

HAGL, who are currently in 12th place, have lost their three consecutive matches while SLNA defeated Sài Gòn with a score of 2-0 to move into ninth place.

Coach Nguyễn Quốc Tuấn has set his team the goal of defeating SLNA, to prevent Cần Thơ from overtaking them in the title placings.

Cần Thơ are currently just behind HAGL with 18 points and will face Quảng Nam tomorrow.

To improve their league position, HAGL will sign South Korean coach Chung Hae-seong on a two-year contract.

The 59-year-old Chung was chief assistant coach of the South Korean national team at the Sydney Olympics in 2000 and became assistant coach of Guus Hiddink’s South Korean team that competed in the 2002 South Korea-Japan World Cup.

Alongside Huh Jung-moo, he also led the South Korean team to Round 16 of the 2010 South Africa World Cup. — VNS