Đồng Tháp (in yellow) beat Hoàng Anh Gia Lai (in white) 2-1 in the National U17 Football Championship in Tây Ninh Province. — Photo courtesy of VFF

HÀ NỘI — Đồng Tháp ranked first in Group A after coming from behind to beat 10-man Hoàng Anh Gia Lai 2-1 in the National U17 Football Championship on Monday in Tây Ninh.

After a goalless first half, both teams went on the attack in the second half.

Nguyễn Văn Nhân Ái pushed Hoàng Anh Gia Lai ahead in the 72nd minute. His teammate Võ Công Minh caught a ball from a mistake by Đồng Tháp's goalkeeper Trần Trung Kiên and passed to Ái who netted from close range.

Captain Phan Nhật Thanh Long drew for Đồng Tháp eight minutes later after chaos in Hoàng Anh Gia Lai's box.

Things changed just two minutes after the equaliser. Bùi Quốc Bảo toppled Tô Minh Nhựt and was sent off. 

Nguyễn Minh Tài needed 10 minutes to convert his team's advantage into a goal with a left foot finish.

Đồng Tháp have the same points as defending champions Viettel but rank first because of the goal difference.

Viettel defeated hosts Tây Ninh 1-0 in the opening match of the tournament. Vũ Bá Hải Dương scored the only goal in the 18th minute. But they will not have midfielder Hồng Phúc in the next match against Hoàng Anh Gia Lai as Phúc received two yellow cards and will be sidelined.

The Group B's activities today will be matches between Sanvinest Khánh Hòa vs PVF and Thanh Hóa vs Becamex Bình Dương. — VNS