Here following are the five talking points from the last V.League matchday.
1. Sanna Khanh Hoa relegated to First Division
Sanna Khanh Hoa will have to play in the First Division next season after wrapping up their 2019 V.League campaign in rock bottom place with a humiliating 1-4 loss against Hoang Anh Gia Lai in their last-matchday encounter on Wednesday.
The defeat wrapped up a forgettable season for Vo Dinh Tan’s side as they only managed to score 25 points from 26 matches. It also marked an end to Khanh Hoa’s five-year journey in Vietnam’s top-tier league.
2. Thanh Hoa eligible for relegation play-off
.jpg) |
Thanh Hoa FC players celebrate scoring against Becamex Binh Duong on Wednesday.
Thanh Hoa FC continue to foster hopes of retaining their V.League status after playing out a 1-1 away draw against Becamex Binh Duong on Oct. 23, which saw them qualify for the relegation play-off match as the second-from-bottom team of the V.League.
A victory over Pho Hien FC on Oct. 29 will help Mai Xuan Hop’s troops to book their place in the 2020 V.League season.
3. Hanoi FC lift the championship trophy
Despite having been crowned champions with two games in hand, it was not until after their match with Quang Ninh Coal at Cua Ong Stadium on Wednesday that Hanoi FC were presented the V.League trophy.
It was a well-deserved reward for Chu Dinh Nghiem’s side who had demonstrated excellent form throughout the season, scoring 15 wins, eight draws and only three losses after 26 matches with an amazing goal difference of +30 (60-30).
4. A glut of goals scored
 |
Viettel (in red) beat SHB Da Nang in an eight-goal thriller on Wednesday. (Photo: NDO/Tran Hai)
The Matchday 26 fixtures took place vibrantly as a thank-you note from players and the coaching staff to their fans. Specifically, as many as 33 goals were scored through seven matches, with an average of five goals per game.
The Viettel-SHB Da Nang clash at Hanoi’s Hang Day Stadium saw the most goals blasted in with a 5-3 win for the home side, followed by the fixtures Quang Ninh Coal-Hanoi FC (4-2), Saigon FC-Nam Dinh (4-1) and Hoang Anh Gia Lai-Sanna Khanh Hoa (4-1).
5. The “Golden Boot” race come to an end
The “Golden Boot” title of the 2019 V.League went to both Pape Omar Faye (Hanoi FC) and Bruno Cunha Cantanhede (Viettel), who had scored 15 goals each after 26 matches. Particularly, it was Bruno who blasted the most goals in one game as he netted a pocket in Viettel’s 5-3 win against SHB Da Nang on Oct. 23.
Tran Minh Vuong (HAGL) was the most prolific Vietnamese player of the season with a tally of 12 goals, an extremely impressive achievement for a midfielder.
* Hanoi FC crowned V.League champions with two games in hand
* V.League: Khanh Hoa relegated, Thanh Hoa qualify for play-off
