Five talking points from V.League 2019 Matchday 17

>>> Thrashing Saigon 4-1, Hanoi FC close in on V.League top spot

Here following are the five talking points from the weekend’s V.League action.

HCM City miss golden chance to solidify reign

HCM City (in red) fail to capitalise on their three-goal lead in order to secure a victory over Thanh Hoa. (Photo: VPF)

HCM City produced a perfect start in their away match against Thanh Hoa FC, leading by three goals after 63 minutes thanks to Anh Tuan, Van Thanh and Victor Mansaray. However, Chung Hae-seong’s side could not consolidate the huge advantage and clinch a victory, as the hosts came from behind to seal an incredible 3-3 draw.

With such a regrettable result, HCM City overlooked a golden opportunity to strengthen their grip atop of the V.League table, while losing some self-determination in the remainder of the title race.

Hanoi FC close in on top spot

Midfielder Quang Hai (in blue) contributes an assist and a goal to Hanoi FC's 4-1 win over Saigon FC. (Photo: VPF)

Hanoi FC made good use of HCM City’s unexpected draw against Thanh Hoa to move within only one point behind the title-race leaders, after they comfortably demolished Saigon FC 4-1 away over the weekend.

The result proved significant to Chu Dinh Nghiem’s players, as they had recently been on a disappointing run, dropping the full three points in the last minutes twice at Hang Day stadium. The victory against Saigon is said to provide an important psychological boost for the reigning champions in preparation for the final stretch of the season.

A glut of goals scored

Hanoi FC striker Pape Omar (left) nets twice against Saigon FC to lead the V.League's scoring tally with 10 goals. (Photo: VPF)

Matchday 17 offered fans with a real football party, as a total of 27 goals were scored across seven matches (nearly four goals per game), the largest scoring tally recorded since the beginning of the season. Many of the goals came from extremely exciting and thrilling encounters with a high level of tension, including the 3-3 draw between Thanh Hoa FC and leaders HCM City and the 3-2 victories for Hai Phong FC and Hoang Anh Gia Lai against Quang Ninh Coal and Song Lam Nghe An, respectively.

Sanna Khanh Hoa back into crisis

Sanna Khanh Hoa BVN (in blue) remain stuck at rock bottom of the table following their straight loss to Viettel. (Photo: VPF)

After getting positive results against Hanoi FC (2-2) and Becamex Binh Duong (1-0), Sanna Khanh Hoa BVN fell back into crisis with a 0-2 defeat against newly promoted Viettel last weekend. With the humiliating loss, Vo Dinh Tan’s side continued to stay stuck at rock bottom, five points behind the penultimate team, Quang Nam FC.

If such poor and unstable form continues, Sanna Khanh Hoa will hardly escape from being relegated at the end of the season, which will be a regrettable ending for a team once considered the phenomenon of the 2018 V.League.

A sad matchday for the leading group

Quang Ninh Coal (in blue) miss the chance to consolidate their third place with a 2-3 defeat against Hai Phong FC. (Photo: VPF)

Four of the top five teams in the table, including HCM City, Quang Ninh Coal, Thanh Hoa FC and Song Lam Nghe An, missed out on a win over the weekend, either being defeated by those in the bottom half of the table or holding each other to a draw. Hanoi FC were the only top-five side to bag the full three points on matchday 17.

After the latest V.League action, the gap between the teams has been narrowed, which promises to make the title race fiercer and hotter in the upcoming matchdays.