>>> HAGL extend unbeaten run with win against Hai Phong FC
Following their 0-3 defeat against Nam Dinh FC, Saigon FC sacked manager Shimoda Masahiro and appointed assistant Phung Thanh Phuong as replacement, with the hope of bringing a fresh vitality to the team.
However, the southern team still have to wait to see if the managerial change works.
Viettel FC were forced to make a substitution after just seven minutes, with Vu Minh Tuan taking the place of the injured Bruno Matos. Tuan immediately proved his worth, delivering a cross for Caique to fire a header over the bar in the 18th minute before picking up Trong Hoang’s pass and launching a close-range shot to the far corner to open the scoring 13 minutes later.
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(Photo: NDO/Tran Hai)
Truong Viet Hoang’s side maintained pressure after the break and came close to widening the gap several times.
In the 63rd minute, Trong Hoang collected Caique’s backheel and rifled an unstoppable strike to double the advantage for Viettel FC.
The result was put to bed two minutes later, as keeper Van Phong brilliantly denied Caique’s close-range shot with his leg but could not prevent teammate Cong Thanh from accidentally slotting the ball home to make it 3-0.
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(Photo: NDO/Tran Hai)
With the victory, Viettel FC moved to fourth place in the standings with 13 points and stayed hot on the heels of leaders Hoang Anh Gia Lai, now one point clear of Quang Ninh Coal and SHB Da Nang.
Meanwhile, their fourth successive defeat keeps Saigon FC third from bottom on six points, just one above bottom-placed Hong Linh Ha Tinh.
On the same day, Quang Ninh Coal edged past Becamex Binh Duong 1-0 to stay in second place, while Thanh Hoa FC demolished Ha Tinh 5-3 in the highest scoring match so far this season.
The last clash of Matchweek 7 between Nam Dinh FC and Song Lam Nghe An will take place at 6pm today (April 4).
