Binh Duong remains at the top of V-League

Binh Duong remains at the top of Vietnam’s top-tier V-League after a 2-0 away win over low-ranked side Nam Dinh in the 15th round at Nam Dinh Stadium on Sunday.

The hosts Nam Dinh led an attack from the start, meaning that visitors Binh Duong had to play defensively.

After being under pressure for the first few minutes, the 2007-08 V-League champs Binh Duong improved their defense, started attacking and created chances.

Binh Duong took the lead after Nigerian defender Egbo Osita headed home a free kick by Vu Phong from the right.

The visitors Binh Duong scored again four minutes later after striker Anh Duc’s header defeated Nam Dinh’s goalkeeper Ngoc Tu for the second time.

Binh Duong now leads the league with 31 points while Nam Dinh, with only eight points, are very likely to be relegated to the country’s second-tier First Division.

Reigning champs Da Nang slid one spot to third with 28 points after being held to a 1-1 draw by the Mekong Delta team Dong Thap on home soil at Chi Lang Stadium.

The draw kept Dong Thap in fourth position, three points adrift of Da Nang, who have booked their berth in Asia’s second-tier AFC Cup quarterfinals.

Hanoi T&T climbed one place to second with 28 points after taking a 3-1 away victory at Nha Trang Stadium over Khanh Hoa, who remains in eighth position.

In other action, 2003-04 league champions Hoang Anh Gia Lai (HAGL) drew 1-1 with Hoa Phat Hanoi at Hang Day Stadium.

HAGL remained in tenth position while the Hanoi side fell three spots to twelfth out of the 14 teams in the league.

The league’s 2005-06 champions Dong Tam Long An (DTLA) took a 1-0 away win over the 2001 champions Nghe An at Vinh Stadium.

DTLA climbed one place to 11th with 18 points while Nghe An remained in seventh with 20 points.

Ninh Binh moved one place up to fifth after a 3-0 home win over Navibank Saigon, who remains in penultimate place with 11 points.

Thanh Hoa defeated Hai Phong Cement 4-1 and jumped two places to ninth with 19 points while Hai Phong slid one position to sixth with 23 points.

Source: Thanh Nien