Cau tinh yeu da nang

Coach Le Huynh Duc said good bye to Da Nang after 13 years of training. Photo zingnews.vn

The loss was Da Nang’s fourth in six matches and put a serious dent in their chances of finishing in the top six teams after the mid-season split, with 16 points in 12 matches only good enough for ninth in the V.League 1 table.

The series of bad results put great pressure on coach Duc and immediately after the home loss, he resigned.

Duc came to Da Nang to replace coach Phan Thanh Hung in 2008 and helped the team win V.League 1 championships in 2009 and 2012.

“As a coach, it is normal to work or take a break. If you do well, the players are excited, then you succeed. And when I failed, I took responsibility,” said Duc.

“As for my way of building my playing style, I think it doesn’t matter,” he added.

After Duc resigned, Da Nang contacted coach Hung and hired him.

Coach Hung coached Becamex Binh Duong earlier this season, but due to health reasons, he resigned but is now apparently well enough to work again.

Hung was the former national team coach and guided Than Quang Ninh to fourth place in the V.League 1 2020.  Before coming to Quang Ninh in 2016, the 60-year-old coach helped Hanoi FC win V.League 1 titles in 2010 and 2013, and the Super Cup in 2010.

Earlier, Hung played for Quang Nam Da Nang (now SHB Da Nang) and won the national football championship in 1992. He and his team reached the semi-finals of the Asian Cup Winners’ Cup in 1992, the best result of a Vietnamese team in the continental event.

He was called up to the national team in 1993 to compete in the 1994 World Cup qualifying round at the age of 33 and scored a goal for the Vietnamese team in a 3-2 defeat to Singapore. After that, he also played in the SEA Games 17.

In other games on Sunday, Hoang Anh Gia Lai (HAGL) drew with Binh Duong 2-2; Hanoi FC beat Sai Gon FC 3-1; HCM City defeated Hai Phong 3-0; Thanh Hoa beat Song Lam Nghe An 1-0; Hong Linh Ha Tinh bested Nam Dinh 3-2; and Binh Dinh drew 1-1 with Quang Ninh.

After 12 matches, HAGL lead the league 29 points, followed by Viettel with 26 points.

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Two successive wins under the dynasty of new manager Nguyen Thanh Cong gave a strong boost to Ha Tinh’s confidence, allowing them to create a dominant match against the former champions.

The hosts needed only 16 minutes to open the scoring, with centre back Kelly Oahimijie heading home Van Hiep’s cross from a free kick.

In the following minutes, Kelly Oahimijie continued to play dynamically and constantly blocked the dangerous attacking spikes of the away side, such as Nguyen Tien Linh, Pape Omar Faye and Victor Mansary. If he had been lucky, he could have completed a double in the 39th minute with a bicycle kick that was parried by a Binh Duong player.

However, home fans did not have to wait long to celebrate their second goal, as just three minutes later, midfielder Trung Hoc burst down the right flank and returned the ball back to Tuan Hai to finish it off.

The Ha Tinh side continued to rub salt in the guests’ wounds in the next three minutes with captain Tran Phi Son delivering an impressive personal showing before firing a powerful strike from 16 metres to make it 3-0.

After the break, the hosts maintained their pressure and further extended their advantage thanks to an own goal from Binh Duong defender Thanh Long five minutes before the hour mark.

Ha Tinh captain Tran Phi Son in action during the match. (Photo: VPF)

The visitors’ efforts in the remainder of the match only helped them earn two consolation goals, by Tong Anh Ty (69’) and Mansaray (89’).

The emphatic 4-2 victory lifted Hong Linh Ha Tinh to 10th place in the table with 12 points, keeping their hope of staying in the V.League 1 alive.

On the same day, Nam Dinh FC edged past Quang Ninh Coal 1-0 away thanks to Oussou Kona’s solitary goal, thus moving up to third place with 18 points.

Meanwhile, second-placed Viettel FC saw their five-game winning run halted after being held to an unexpected 1-1 away draw by Ho Chi Minh City. With the result, Truong Viet Hoang’s side are at risk of floating up to five points away from leaders Hoang Anh Gia Lai after the 11th round concludes.

V.League 1 action will continue today (April 28) with the four remaining Round 11 matches, including Thanh Hoa FC vs Hoang Anh Gia Lai, SHB Da Nang vs Saigon FC, Hai Phong FC vs Song Lam Nghe An, and Hanoi FC vs Topenland Binh Dinh.

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On the afternoon of May 4, the Vietnam Football Federation (VFF) announced the 35-men list for the training camp, scheduled from May 10-26 in Hanoi.

In the list, there are many familiar faces who have featured in the team in its successful period over the past three years, such as talisman Quang Hai, striker Cong Phuong, defender Dinh Trong and keeper Dang Van Lam.

Coach Park also summoned some new faces who have played well at their clubs in recent years such as Ly Cong Hoang Anh, Le Van Xuan and Phan Van Long.

The list also includes some surprises such as midfielder Thanh Binh (Viettel), defender Thanh Thinh (Da Nang) and Ha Tinh midfielder Ly Cong Hoang Anh, who has just returned from injury.

During the camp, Park will also call up key Viettel midfielder Nguyen Trong Hoang. Fortunately, Trong Hoang’s injury on the 12th matchday of the V.League 1 is not too serious, only costing him two weeks off. Meanwhile, Hoang Anh Gia Lai (HAGL) midfielder Tuan Anh is also to be called up after returning from injury.

Notably, former SC Heerenveen defender Doan Van Hau is not on the list because he has not completely recovered from injury. Midfielder Huu Tuan (HAGL), who has recently been in good shape is also absent.

According to the initially announced plan, the Vietnam team gathering will be divided into two phases – during phase 1, they will gather in Binh Dinh province from May 10 to 18 and are expected to have a friendly match with V.League 1 side Topenland Binh Dinh on May 17.

However, with the complex developments of the COVID-19 epidemic in many localities, the VFF and the team’s coaching staff have agreed to dismiss the training camp in Binh Dinh to ensure the health and safety of team members.

Instead, Park and his players will gather in Hanoi and train at the Vietnam Youth Football Training Centre from May 10 to 26, then depart for the UAE on the evening of the same day to join the second Asian qualifying round of the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

According to a plan announced by the Asian Football Confederation, teams must be present in the UAE on May 31. Thus, with their early arrival on May 26, Park’s side will have up to 10 days to practice and get familiar with local conditions in the UAE.

On May 31, the Vietnamese team are expected to have a friendly match with Jordan, who were defeated by Park’s side in the Round of 16 at the 2019 Asian Cup.

On June 7, the team will have their first match in the UAE against Indonesia, before meeting Malaysia on June 11, thereafter ending the second qualifying round with a match against hosts UAE on June 15. All matches will take place at 11:45 pm (Vietnam time).

Currently, Vietnam are ranked first in Group G with 11 points, followed by Malaysia (9), Thailand (8), UAE (6) and Indonesia (0). Coach Park’s team need to bag six points in their last three matches to ensure their slot in the final qualifying round.

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Bac Ninh authorities hosted an urgent meeting to deploy immediate response as the northern province reported nine more cases of COVID-19 linked with a pandemic cluster at the Hanoi-based National Hospital for Tropical Diseases on May 6.

The health sector of Bac Ninh Province has tested over 900 samples and put more than 100 people in isolation.

At the conference, Chairperson of Bac Ninh Provincial People’s Committee Nguyen Huong Giang suggested that local departments and agencies should strengthen epidemic prevention and control while accelerating the tracing, localising and stamping out of outbreaks, as well as building plans to ensure safety for the upcoming national election.

Meanwhile, nine cases of COVID-19 associated with the pandemic cluster at the Hanoi-based National Hospital for Tropical Diseases were reported on the morning of May 6.

On the day, the health department of northern Thai Binh Province also reported five new cases linked with the hospital’s pandemic cluster.

Thai Binh has decided to impose social distancing across the province from 12:00 on May 6, while activating anti-COVID-19 groups. Local preschools and students at all levels must remain home from school until further notice.

The two other cases were recorded in the northern province of Hung Yen.

The localities have quickly conducted contract tracing and rolled out measures to seal off pandemic-hit areas.

Located in Hanoi’s outlying district of Dong Anh, the hospital was the frontline facility in the COVID-19 fight. On May 4, a doctor of the hospital was confirmed positive for the coronavirus.

Today, soldiers from the Vietnamese army’s chemical division disinfected the hospital which has been a COVID-19 hotspot in the latest outbreak.

The hospital has been put under 14-day lockdown, starting May 5. About 400 employees of the hospital are being quarantined there. During the lockdown, the hospital will only admit new COVID-19 patients.

A doctor of the Military Hospital 105 has also tested positive for coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 which causes COVID-19.

The 43-year-old doctor had participated in a training course at the National Hospital for Tropical Diseases in Hanoi’s Dong Anh District before the hospital was put under lockdown.

The Military Hospital 105 has defined 22 people who had close contact with him. It has also been taking samples from its staff for COVID-19 testing.

Facing the complicated developments of the epidemic, the People’s Committee of Quang Ninh Province issued an official letter on suspending sightseeing and tourism activities to prevent and combat the epidemic from 12 pm today.

From 0:00 on May 7, Cat Hai District in the neighbouring city of Hai Phong has stopped welcoming tourists, while all religious activities and crowded gatherings in public areas and beaches are also required to halt.

On the May 6, the central city of Da Nang confirmed a new case, a staff member of the New Phuong Dong nightclub. The apartment where the patient lives has been blocked. On May 4, a staff of the nightclub was confirmed positive for the virus.

Locals residing in the 12T3 apartment building provide samples for testing on the morning of May 6, 2021. (Photo: Anh Dao)

Also on May 6, the health sector in the neighbouring province of Quang Ngai announced a new case in Quang Ngai City’s Tinh Ky Commune linked with a pandemic outbreak at the New Phuong Dong nightclub.

Following the detection, local authorities immediately ordered the temporary closure of schools in the commune and a ban on entry of vessels to the area in a bid to curb the spread of the disease.

On the same day, the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Education and Training required education institutions to adjust their plans to end the second semester tests for local students before May 9.

In the face of complicated developments of COVID-19, high schools in Ha Tinh Province will push the early finish for the second semester exams to before May 8.

Local schools were asked to continue to tighten epidemic prevention and control to ensure safety for students when going to school.

Nghi Xuan High School (Ha Tinh Province) plans to end the second semester exams before May 8 for students in grades 10 and 11. (Photo: NDO/Ngo Tuan)

The shining display of the foreign players earned the former champions their first victory under new manager Park Choong-kyun, lifting them to seventh in the table with 16 points, just a single point adrift of the top six.

Meanwhile, the loss pushed Saigon FC down to 13 ^th position, standing just three points clear of bottom-place Song Lam Nghe An, who conceded three unanswered goals against Ho Chi Minh City on the same day.

Geovane contributed significantly to Hanoi FC’s Sunday triumph. The Brazilian forward moved the hosts off the mark after only three minutes lofting a skillful left-footed curler over goalkeeper Van Phong toward the far top corner.

Hanoi FC almost doubled their advantage 16 minutes later, however, Quang Hai’s impromptu volley was denied by the crossbar.

In the 28 ^th minute, Cao Van Trien delivered a subtle pass from midfield to unmarked Manh Cuong, who burst into the box to take the ball before shooting past goalie Bui Tan Truong in a one-on-one to level the score.

Hanoi FC’s Nguyen Quang Hai in action during the match. (Photo: NDO/Tran Hai)

After the break, Hanoi FC strengthened their attacks and created a number of clear-cut opportunities. It was not until the 67 ^th minute that Park Choong-kyun’s side restored their lead with Geovane heading Thai Quy’s left-flank cross home to beat Van Phong, who had showed amazing reflexes to deny Bruno’s close-range shot just seconds earlier.

In the 79 ^th minute, Bruno punished the guests’ loose defence by firing a powerful header from Van Quyet’s cross to seal a convincing 3-1 victory for Hanoi FC.

Hanoi FC are now level with Topenland Binh Dinh and SHB Da Nang on 16 points. They will need a win against bottom-place Song Lam Nghe An in the last round of the first phase on May 7 to firmly secure a place in the title campaign’s second phase.

Leaders Hoang Anh Gia Lai (HAGL) saw their seven-game winning run halted following a 2-2 home draw with Becamex Binh Duong, while title holders Viettel FC edged past SHB Da Nang 2-1 away to move within three points of HAGL.

Hong Linh Ha Tinh climbed to 10 ^th place after beating Nam Dinh FC 3-2, extending their winning streak to four matches.

Lee Nguyen scored a brace to help Ho Chi Minh City defeat Hai Phong FC 3-0 to escape the relegation zone. Meanwhile, V.League 1 newbies Topenland Binh Dinh played out a 1-1 draw against third-placed Quang Ninh Coal.

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Minh Vuong put HAGL ahead shortly after halftime before Cong Phuong doubled their advantage on the penalty spot 20 minutes later. Gramoz managed to earn a consolation goal for the hosts just seconds before the final whistle.

Playing at home, Thanh Hoa proved things would not be easy for HAGL as Petrovic’s side successfully blocked the visitors’ attacks throughout the first half, during which Cong Phuong missed out on an opener with his injury-time free-kick striking the crossbar.

However, HAGL promptly proved the power that has helped them dominate the V.League 1 table for the past few rounds. Just three minutes after the interval, Minh Vuong broke the deadlock with a decisive long-range strike toward the bottom left corner.

Thanh Hoa came very close to restoring parity a few minutes later, but Ngoc Tan’s powerful drive was unexpectedly denied by the crossbar after leaving goalkeeper Tuan Linh flat-footed.

HAGL’s Cong Phuong (No. 10) celebrates scoring their second goals with teammates. (Photo: VPF)

In the 67 ^th minute, Cong Phuong dealt a heavy blow to the hosts’ ambition to turn things around by successfully converting a penalty resulting from Van Loi’s infringement on Brandao in the box.

The No. 10 forward again found the back of the net two minutes later, but his goal was ruled offside by the referee.

Late in the match, Petrovic’s troops deployed several dangerous attacks on the away side, but goalkeeper Tuan Linh made a series of brilliant saves to help the guests defend their lead.

It was not until the fourth minute of stoppage time that Thanh Hoa earned a consolation goal thanks to a penalty by Gramoz. However, the remaining time was too little for them to create any further stirs.

The 2-1 victory helps HAGL extend their unbeaten run in V.League 1 to nine matches (seven wins and two draws) allowing them to move five points clear of reigning champions Viettel.

Hanoi FC (in white) have dropped to 10th position after conceding a 0-1 defeat against newbies Topenland Binh Dinh. (Photo: NDO/Tran Hai)

On the same day, V.League 1 newbies Topenland Binh Dinh edged past former champions Hanoi FC thanks to a solitary goal by Hendrio (22’), thus climbing to seventh in the standings and retaining hopes of making the top six title contenders in the second phase.

Song Lam Nghe An were beaten into bottom place following their 0-2 away defeat against Hai Phong FC, while SHB Da Nang failed to break into the top three after losing 1-2 at home to Saigon FC.

V.League 1-2021 Table – Matchweek 11