It was no surprise that under-form Saigon, who had gone four games without a win, played on the back foot against the home side, who were unbeaten for six matches in a row.
After just one hour of play, the 2014 champions were three goals in front thanks to a hattrick scored by Tien Linh (16’, 41’, 60’), who has just returned from injury.
Hoang Thien reduced the gap to 1-3 for the guests in the 66th minute, only to see his effort cancelled out by Nguyen Anh Duc, as the Binh Duong captain restored their three-goal advantage 16 minutes later.
The home team’s goal glut only finished in injury time, as Tien Linh completed his poker and sealed a resounding 5-1 victory for Becamex Binh Duong. Linh is the first player to score four goals in a match since the beginning of the 2018 V.League season.
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Nguyen Anh Duc contributes a goal to Binh Duong's victory.
The home win helped Binh Duong to defend their third place in the table with 17 points, three and six points behind the two teams placed above, Quang Ninh Coal and Hanoi FC, respectively.
Leaders Hanoi FC extended their unbeaten streak to ten games in a row by edging out Song Lam Nghe An 2-1, while second-placed Quang Ninh Coal continued to show stable form with a 1-0 victory at Hai Phong.
XSKT Can Tho and Ho Chi Minh City played out goalless draws against SHB Da Nang and the reigning champions Quang Nam FC, respectively. Meanwhile, Hoang Anh Gia Lai got their foothold in the top four thanks to a shock 1-0 win over last year’s runners-up FLC Thanh Hoa.
Despite yet to escape bottom place, the surprising 2-2 draw with Sanna Khanh Hoa BVN helped the V.League newbies Nam Dinh FC to narrow the gap with Saigon and Song Lam Nghe An to just two points.
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