Football

HÀ NỘI — Nam Định face a fierce battle with Bình Dương in the penultimate round of V.League 1 today, aiming to avoid relegation.

The game will be held at Thiên Trường Stadium in the northern province of Nam Định.

According to coach Nguyễn Văn Sỹ, his team will try their best to earn three points to avoid relegation.

It is likely a hard task for Nam Định as at present, Nam Định are in 13^th position out of 14 teams with only 20 points, while Bình Dương rank sixth with 30 points.

 Finishing 13^th would mean Nam Định face a relegation/promotion playoff with the team in second place of V.League 2.

“We are not afraid of facing Bình Dương. If we want to stay in the league, we must fight,” said coach Nguyễn Văn Sỹ of Nam Định.

“The event’s last round will take place on October 6. So we have to adjust training suitably. We can’t practice all day,” said Sỹ.

At Pleiku Stadium in the Central Highlands Province of Gia Lai, Hoàng Anh Gia Lai (HAGL), who rank ninth, will take on Hải Phòng, seventh place.

HAGL, who are no longer in relegation danger, won’t have key striker Nguyễn Công Phượng due to a suspension, which could end the striker’s hopes of finishing as top Vietnamese scorer.

Currently, Phượng and Nguyễn Tiến Linh of Becamex Bình Dương top the list with 12 goals each.

The northern port city team of Hải Phòng won’t also have their best team as forward Diego Fagan is suspended.

Meanwhile, after the game against bottom-placed team Cần Thơ today, champions Hà Nội will receive their trophy.

Earlier, Hà Nội won the national premier league with five rounds to go.

It is the fourth time Hà Nội have triumphed in the national top flight league, after successes in 2010, 2013 and 2016.

Entry to Hà Nội-based Hàng Đẫy Stadium is free for the match between Hà Nội and Cần Thơ. — VNS