Binh Duong, Khanh Hoa make a good start in V-League
SHB Danang suffer 0-3 loss at AFC Champions League qualifier
By Vu Duc - The Saigon Times Daily
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| Khanh Hoa’s striker Agostinho (R) celebrates after scoring during their V-League first round football match against Hoang Anh in Nha Trang City on Sunday - Photo: Ba Chau |
HCMC – The biggest football tournament, the V-League – PetroVietnam Gas 2010, kicked off on Sunday, but Hoang Anh Gia Lai and Thanh Hoa suffered big losses to Khanh Hoa and Becamex Binh Duong in their openers.
V-League 2010 expects to see a five-horse race to the title. Defending champions SHB Danang, Binh Duong with three top scorers, Alves Kesley, Amaobi and De Jesus, are eager to win the V-League 2010 title. T&T Hanoi 
set their target to be in top three while Song Lam Nghe An and Ninh Binh are the favorites.
Though visiting team Hoang Anh started with Thai coach Kiatisuk Senamuang, who joined Hoang Anh last month, the Pleiku-based team suffered a miserable loss to underdogs Khanh Hoa in Nha Trang City.
Agostinho opened the score for Khanh Hoa in the 17th minute after receiving the ball from midfielder Le Tan Tai.
After the goal, Hoang Anh dominated the ball and put the home side goal under heavy pressure. However, both sides played with ten men as Van Truong and Agostinho were sent off with red cards.
Nguyen Quang Hai doubled for Khanh Hoa in the 50th minute but Viet Cuong narrowed the scoring gap to 2-1 just four minutes later. Mustapha and Van Phong helped their team advance in the 64th and 76th minutes before Evaldo finalized the game at 4-2 in the 90th minute.
Meanwhile, 2009 V-League runner-up Becamex Binh Duong were brilliant in their first game as they thrashed Thanh Hoa 6-2. The home side Thanh Hoa dominated the game from the beginning and Dinh Tung opened the score in the 15th minute and Brazilian striker Da Silva netted a goal in the 34th minute.
However, Binh Duong bounced back and De Jesus and Truong Giang helped Binh Duong level the scoring gap in the 39th and 42nd minutes before Philani ended the first half with a goal just two minutes later.
The visiting team Thanh Hoa continuously dominated the game in the second half and they placed more pressure on their opponents. De Jesus, Alves Kesley and Phong Hoa scored for Binh Duong in the 49th, 64th and 85th minutes.
The derby game between the two Hanoi teams, Hoa Phat Hanoi and T&T Hanoi, ended 1-2. Eduadro and Francois scored for T&T Hanoi in the 26th and 69th minutes while Van Quan scored the only goal for Hoa Phat in the 67th minute.
Also on the first day of the V-League, Song Lam Nghe An tied 1-1 with Navibank Saigon in their home town, Nam Dinh drew 2-2 to Dong Thap in the northern province of Nam Dinh and Ninh Binh and Dong Tam Long An Tiles ended goalless in Ninh Binh Province.
Meanwhile, the National First Division 2009, the second biggest football tournament in Vietnam, officially kicked off at stadiums nationwide on Saturday with six boring matches and just eight goals scored.
The tournament drew the participation of 14 teams. However, Thanh Hoa withdrew due to lack of funding before the opening. Therefore, the organizing board has decided on Hanoi ACB, Viettel, Binh Dinh, Dong Nai, Quang Nam, Hue, Can Tho, An Giang, Tay Ninh, TDC Binh Duong, Tien Giang, HCMC Club and Quang Ninh Coal.
Thirteen teams are competing for two berths to play in V-League next season while the two bottom-placed teams will be relegated.
Tay Ninh had a tough match but finally won 2-1 over TDC Binh Duong in their hometown and hosts Tien Giang beat HCMC Club 2-1 in the Mekong Delta city of My Tho.
Hanoi ACB tied Viettel 1-1 on their home ground while the games between Binh Dinh and Dong Nai in the central city of Qui Nhon, Can Tho and An Giang in Can Tho City and Quang Nam and Hue in Tam Ky City ended scoreless.
* V-League champions SHB Danang lost 0-3 to Thai Premier League champions Muang Thong United in the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Champions League qualifying round at Danang’s Chi Lang Stadium on Sunday.
Danang faced some difficulties when they started without striker Almeida, who suffered an injury. Moreover, Le Huynh Duc’s players had a poor start, a 2-4 loss in a penalty shootout to Thanh Hoa in the Super Cup last month.
Meanwhile, the Thai side were confident of victory against their rivals in Belgian Rene Desaeyere’s first competitive game as Muang Thong coach. Desaeyere said his squad were at full strength and were looking forward to the one-off qualifier.
The Thai side put pressure on their opponents in the beginning. Wongsa, Kouakou and national striker Winothai scored for their team in the 32nd, 44th and 78th minutes.
Muang Thong United will meet either Singaporean Armed Forces or Sriwijaya of Indonesia on February 6 for a place in the group stages. The losers in both games will play in the AFC Cup.