>>> Late goals rescue Thanh Hoa from defeat at Hoang Anh Gia Lai
>>> V.League: Hanoi FC stop HCM City’s fairytale run
Here are five talking points from the weekend’s V.League action.
2. Hanoi FC climb to top spot after win against HCM City
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Ho Chi Minh City suffer the first loss under the dynasty of manager Chung Hae-seong.
The most anticipated match of Matchday 7 was the clash between the top two teams in the table, HCM City and Hanoi FC, at Hang Day stadium.
As expected, both teams gave the fans an exciting match with retaliatory attacks. However, a clever through ball from crowd favourite Nguyen Quang Hai enabled Hoang Vu Samson to score the solitary goal of the game to secure Hanoi FC a narrow 1-0 win and put an end to HCM City’s fairytale run since the season’s beginning.
After Matchday 7, Hanoi FC remain the only unbeaten team among the 14 V.League clubs. More importantly, with the full three points won against HCM City, manager Chu Dinh Nghiem’s side resumed their lead in the title race one point clear of their direct competitors.
2. Hoang Anh Gia Lai miss full joy under new manager
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Hoang Anh Gia Lai (in white) miss out on their first win under new manager Lee Tae-hoon.
After a humiliating 0-3 defeat against Quang Nam FC on Matchday 6, Hoang Anh Gia Lai manager Duong Minh Ninh resigned to give the seat to Republic of Korea tactician Lee Tae-hoon. However, in their first match under the new manager, Hoang Anh Gia Lai could not get full joy.
Leading by two goals after the first 70 minutes (3-1), Hoang Anh Gia Lai paid dearly for their mistakes, conceding two consecutive goals in the last 15 minutes, including an 89th-minute goal, to miss the full three points on their home field.
Dropping the victory in the last few minutes left manager Lee Tae-hoon and the home fans in deep regrets. Nonetheless, the positive signs in Hoang Anh Gia Lai’s playing style were demonstrated throughout the match, sending out hopes for better results in the future.
3. Saigon FC rediscover joy of victory
Saigon FC (right) have returned to the top half of the table after Matchday 7. (Photo: VPF)
The absence of captain Da Sylva (suspension) had been expected to create numerous difficulties for Saigon FC as they hosted SHB Da Nang in Matchday 7.
However, forward Pedro Paulo had a shining day of competition scoring a double to help Saigon FC thrash manager Le Huynh Duc’s side 3-1 and return to the top half of the table.
4. Forward Anh Duc, from hero to perpetrator
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Forward Nguyen Anh Duc celebrates opening the scoring for Becamex Binh Duong. (Photo: VPF)
Forward Nguyen Anh Duc opened the scoring for Becamex Binh Duong with an eye-catching volley as they played guest to Hai Phong FC in Matchday 7.
With the 2-1 score in favour of the guests remaining unchanged until the last official minute of play, everyone thought it would be an overall triumph for Anh Duc and his teammates. However, within only two minutes in injury time, Hai Phong FC scored two successive goals. Notably, it was Anh Duc who unexpectedly delivered a pass to Hai Phong forward Fagan who then scored a late winner for the home side.
After the match, Anh Duc received words of encouragement from Binh Duong’s coaching staff as well as national team coach Park Hang-seo.
5. Viettel taste first away win in 2019 V.League
Viettel and Quang Nam players fight for the ball during their Matchday 7 encounter. (Photo: VPF)
After three empty-handed trips since the beginning of the season, newly promoted Viettel FC eventually found the joy of away victory in their Matchday 7 away match at Quang Nam FC’s Tam Ky stadium last weekend.
Manager Lee Heung-sil needed only 10 minutes to finish off their opponents with two goals scored by Souza and Vu Minh Tuan. The important win lifted Viettel to seventh place in the table four points adrift of the relegation zone, an acceptable result for the V.League newbies.
