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The return of Vietnamese football events after months of disruption due to COVID-19 was marked with ten matches under the first round of the National Cup 2020, taking place from May 23 to 25.
It was special as the matches were held with fans in attendance, something which has not yet been seen in any other national football league around the world amid the ongoing global pandemic.
At the PVF Football Academy field in Hung Yen Province on Monday afternoon, Pho Hien played Thanh Hoa for a ticket to the Round of 16. The hosts were the better side in the first half and almost earned the opener with striker Tran Van Trung missing two chances in his close-range finishes.
The visitors were quite lucky later as the pole denied another golden chance from the hosts in the first half.
At the beginning of the second half, substitutes Le Pham Thanh Long and Nguyen Huu Dung were given the chance to strengthen the midfield for Thanh Hoa. The personnel changing was effective and the visitors opened the scoring thanks to a header from naturalised striker Hoang Vu Samson.
Coach Hua Hien Vinh’s side strengthened attacks to seek for an equaliser, but Thanh Hoa's defensive line and keeper Thanh Diep were focused in neutralising any threats from the hosts.
However, a mistake in the final minute of official time forced Thanh Hoa to pay the price. Pho Hien levelled the score 1-1 in the 90th minute.
Captain Dinh Tung's golden goal in injury time helped Thanh Hoa progress to the National Cup 2020. (Photo: baothanhhoa.vn)
With the match seeming likely to end in a 1-1 tie, efforts in the five minutes of injury time helped Thanh Hoa to earn an emphatic win, thanks to Dinh Tung's deciding goal in the 96th minute.
Beating the hosts 2-1, Thanh Hoa marched into the Round of 16 to face hosts Becamex Binh Duong on Sunday.
In other matches on Monday, hosts Dong Thap ousted Hai Phong thanks to a 3-1 win, visitors Viettel beat Khanh Hoa 1-0 to progress, while two hosts Binh Phuoc and Hong Linh Ha Tinh also earned their tickets to the next round after their 2-0 and 2-1 victories over Dak Lak and Tay Ninh, respectively.
The next round of the 2020 National Cup will take place this weekend, from May 30 to 31.
The Bamboo Airways National Cup 2020 Round of 16 will take place this weekend. (Photo: vpf.vn)
