League

Maloso Dome
Spectators: 8406 (Terracing: 6305, Seating: 1933, VIP seats: 168) Dark clouds were building up when the players entered the field. None of the them looked very eager to play. Lý Khoi started the match with the kick off. After a defensive mix-up in 7-1 FC's zone, Đoàn Quang Thanh stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Nghiêm Binh came out of the goal and Đoàn Quang Thanh tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. 7-1 FC's Nghiêm Binh played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Chung Nguyet in the 8th minute of play. After some fancy dribbling in the 10th minute, Phạm Tuyet managed to get in a good position for a shot. Ho Chi Minh City's supporters rose to their feet, but Phạm Tuyet was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Nghiêm Binh breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. After having played for 12 minutes, Lý Khoi managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. Ho Chi Minh City's supporters crossed their fingers, but Lý Khoi was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. If Lý Khoi had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 14th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Nghiêm Binh stood for a superb save when he managed to get hold of Đoàn Quang Thanh's shot from short distance in the 16th minute. After having played for 17 minutes, Lý Khoi managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. Ho Chi Minh City's supporters crossed their fingers, but Lý Khoi was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. Lý Khoi recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 20th minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. 22 minutes into the match, 7-1 FC's goal looked a bit too open when Đoàn Quang Thanh came free, but Nghiêm Binh reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Nghiêm Binh showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Đoàn Quang Thanh, who was totally free with the ball in the 24th minute. In the 26th minute, Đoàn Quang Thanh made a precise shot to the right of Nghiêm Binh. 7-1 FC's defense was at fault, and the scoreboard reflected the new score, 0-1. 32 minutes into the game, Nghiêm Dung was given a yellow card after he appeared to trip an opposing player. Ho Chi Minh City's manager was livid on the sidelines, but the referee was unmoved and gave 7-1 FC the free kick. Nghiêm Dung kicked well hit freekick during the 32nd minute of the match. In the 37th minute Đoàn Quang Thanh shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Nghiêm Binh saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. With a couple of smart ball manuevers Lý Khoi in the 39th managed to get into a good position. With a left leg Nghiêm Binh saved 7-1 FC from getting behind. Trần Hieu Ngan's late challenge caught a Ho Chi Minh City's player on the shin and left him crawling around in pain. The referee blew his whistle and produced the yellow card. Trần Hieu Ngan helped the player get up and apologised. The supporters of Ho Chi Minh City booed when 7-1 FC was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 45 match minutes in a wonderful position. Trần Hieu Ngan didn't get a good kick on the ball. When Ho Chi Minh City's Lý Khoi in the 46th minute got a chance for a shot 46th didn't hesitate and placed the ball to the right of the goalie. A beautiful save bye 7-1 FC's goalie prevented a goal. The 7-1 FC players were disheartened as they walked off the pitch after the first half. Ho Chi Minh City were winning 0-1.

Both teams looked relatively alert before the second half when the referee blew his whistle to tell Trần Phuong to make the kick off. 7-1 FC's defense didn't have a chance, in the 51st minute, when Đoàn Quang Thanh scored to the left of an out of position Nghiêm Binh, making the score, 0-2. If Lý Khoi had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 55th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Lý Khoi fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 57th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Nghiêm Binh having to interfere. An unexpectedly hard shot by Lý Khoi in the 61st minute of play forced 7-1 FC's goalkeeper Nghiêm Binh to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. In the 62nd minute, Ho Chi Minh City's Lý Khoi ran free of his marker and smoothly shot the ball into the goal behind Nghiêm Binh. Nghiêm Binh yelled at his defense, as they had left him out to dry. 0-3. Đoàn Quang Thanh fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 65th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Nghiêm Binh having to interfere. In the 68th match minute, Ho Chi Minh City was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Phạm Tuyet to maneuver through the defense. In the 71st minute Lý Khoi shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Nghiêm Binh saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. After 72 minutes, Nguyễn Binh mouthed his way into the referee's book. The tension between the 7-1 FC and the Ho Chi Minh City players grew even worse after the yellow card. In the 72nd match minute, 7-1 FC was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Nguyễn Binh to maneuver through the defense. Lý Khoi fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 79th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Nghiêm Binh having to interfere. Lý Khoi's shot was meant for the net just under the crossbar, but Nghiêm Binh read the situation well and was quickly in position to make a wonderful save in the 81st minute of play. Ho Chi Minh City's Lê Minh-ha played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Phan Bien in the 82nd minute of play. After some fancy dribbling in the 87th minute, Lý Khoi managed to get in a good position for a shot. Ho Chi Minh City's supporters rose to their feet, but Lý Khoi was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Nghiêm Binh breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. In the 89th minute the ball was on its way in behind 7-1 FC's goalkeeper Nghiêm Binh, but with the help of a sacrificing defense, he could catch the ball at the crossbar. 7-1 FC's Nghiêm Binh played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Lý Khoi in the 91st minute of play. Nguyễn Binh kicked well hit freekick during the 91st minute of the match. A collision led to Ho Chi Minh City getting a freekick after 93 minutes play. Chung Nguyet hit a great ball. When the match had gone on for 95 minutes, Phan Bien put it in 1-3 from a short distance just to the right of Lê Minh-ha. Ho Chi Minh City played a much better game than 7-1 FC and deserved their victory. The 7-1 FC players were clearly disappointed as they left the ground.