Football

HÀ NỘI — Defending champions Quảng Nam will face Hà Nội FC in the 12th round of the V. League 1 tomorrow.

The game will be held at Tam Kỳ Stadium in Quảng Nam Province in the South-Central Coast region of Việt Nam.

Coach Hoàng Văn Phúc of Quảng Nam said that although his team would be playing without their key strikers Claudecir dos Reis Rodrigues Júnior and Hà Minh Tuấn who have been sidelined because of injury, Quảng Nam would try their best to earn three points.

“We have suitable tactics for the upcoming match,” Phúc said.

The hard win of 1-0 against Cần Thơ in the last round will be a driving force for Quảng Nam competing on their home turf. They are fifth out of 14 teams in the rankings with 16 points.

The capital team Hà Nội FC have gained nine wins and two draws to rank first in the league with 29 points. They scored 31 goals and have only seven losing goals.

Hà Nội are expected to overthrow Quảng Nam to gain the title in this year’s football season.

Hà Nội proved their power in the 11th round last Sunday. Without key striker Ganiyu Bolayi Oseni, who was suspended for two matches for elbowing defender Mạnh Hùng of SLNA in the 10^th round on May 30 at Vinh Stadium, the team still crushed Khánh Hòa 4-0.

Oseni cannot play tomorrow as well. The Nigerian striker is the top scorer of league now with 12 goals after 10 matches.

At Cẩm Phả Stadium in the northern province of Quảng Ninh, the hosts will face favourite Hoàng Anh Gia Lai (HAGL).

This match is also expected to attract attention of media and fans nationwide. The two sides need points to chase top team Hà Nội in the rankings.

HAGL moved to fourth place with 17 points, while Quảng Ninh are second with 21 points.

At Lạch Tray Stadium in the northern port city of Hải Phòng, Hải Phòng will take on FLC Thanh Hóa, who have stopped their contract with four players.

Elsewhere today, Cần Thơ will meet HCM City, Bình Dương fight Khánh Hòa and Đà Nẵng play Nam Định. — VNS