Football

Rimario Allando Gordon of Thanh Hoá (right) vies for a ball against Nguyễn Xuân Luân of Becamex Bình Dương during their match which ends 1-1. — Photo 24h.com.vn

HÀ NỘI — Sanna Khánh Hòa have been relegated, Thanh Hóa will face Phố Hiến FC in a play-off, and Hà Nội FC were crowned champions on the final day of the V.League 1 on Wednesday.

Thanh Hóa and Khánh Hòa both finished on 25 points, but Thanh Hóa avoided relegation on goal difference.

Thanh Hóa scraped a 1-1 draw away at former champions Becamex Bình Dương to secure the point they needed, while Khánh Hòa were spanked 4-1 by Hoàng Anh Gia Lai.

Hoàng Đình Tùng opened the scoring for Thanh Hóa with a close-range finish towards the end of the first half.

At that point, Hoàng Anh Gia Lai were already 2-0 up.

Midfielder Trần Minh Vương got the opener thanks to a pass from Việt Nam international Nguyễn Tuấn Anh.

Two minutes later, it was 2-0 as striker Nguyễn Văn Toàn broke down the right wing and drilled across in that defender Trần Đình Khương deflected into his own net.

In the second half, Khánh Hòa responded against the run of play, with Zarour Chaher heading home in the 63rd minute.

It was nearly 2-2 for the visitors just six minutes later but Đại Dương's shot was saved by keeper Lê Văn Trường.

Hoàng Anh Gia Lai responded with Toàn supplying the perfect ball for Vương to slot home after 70 minutes.

Toàn got his name on the score sheet after breaking the offside trap and finishing into an empty net in the 75th minute.

Khánh Hòa will be playing second division football next year, while Hoàng Anh Gia Lai have made history with their eighth place finish. 

Fifteen minutes later at Gò Đậu Stadium, Wander Luiz rose to nod in the equaliser for Bình Dương.

After seven losses in a row, one point from their draw and Khánh Hòa’s loss was enough for Thanh Hóa to earn a spot in the play-off.

They will play V.League 2 first runner-up Phố Hiến FC this Saturday. The winner will play in V.League 1 while the losers will compete in V.League 2.

Hà Nội players celebrate their fifth V.League title on Wednesday in Quảng Ninh Province. — Photo of VFF

The same day, Hà Nội lost 4-2 to Quảng Ninh, having already secured the title.

Dyachenko Rodion Sergey put the hosts ahead after 25 minutes, but Ngân Văn Đại levelled the game on the stroke of half time.

But Quảng Ninh were in form on Wednesday, and sealed the win with goals in the 62nd, 73rd and 86th minutes.

Hà Nội’s Pape Omar Faye, who missed a number of chances, grabbed a consolation to make the score 2-4 in injury time.

The win confirmed Quảng Ninh's third place finish with 39 points.

In other games, HCM City, who finished second beat, Hải Phòng 2-1; Viettel trounced SHB Đà Nẵng 5-3; Quảng Nam drew with Sông Lam Nghệ An 2-2; and Sài Gòn defeated Nam Định 4-1. — VNS