League

Rach Gia
Spectators: 5000 (Terracing: 4000, Seating: 1000, VIP seats: 0) MANCHESTER UNITED's Lê Tho started the match with a crisp pass. The crowd had been anticipating this game for weeks and the excitement in the stadium was easily visible. 6 minutes into the match, MANCHESTER UNITED's goal looked a bit too open when Nguyễn Phuc came free, but Trần Phong reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. After a defensive mix-up in MANCHESTER UNITED's zone, Đặng Dung stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Trần Phong came out of the goal and Đặng Dung tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. Nguyễn Phong made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Nguyễn Chuong in the 10th minute of play. When Lê Dung fell near the penalty area in the 10th minute he thought he would be awarded a free kick. The referee ignored Thai Nguyen's protests and gave Lê Dung a yellow card for diving instead. After 11 played minutes Thai Nguyen got a freekick which was hit by Lê Dung. Nguyễn Chuong fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 12th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Nguyễn Phong having to interfere. Nguyễn Chuong received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 14th minute. Nguyễn Phong tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. 16 minutes into the game, one of MANCHESTER UNITED:s players got tackled near the goal, and the referee blew for a penalty. If Phan Dung had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 21st minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. 23 minutes into the match, Thai Nguyen's goal looked a bit too open when Lê Tho came free, but Nguyễn Phong reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Nguyễn Phong showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Lê Tho, who was totally free with the ball in the 34th minute. The supporters of Thai Nguyen booed when MANCHESTER UNITED was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 38 match minutes in a wonderful position. Phạm Cong Vinh didn't get a good kick on the ball. The audience was convinced that Đặng Dung's extremely hard shot when he got free in front of the goal was going in, but Trần Phong was relentless in the 40th minute of the game. 44 minutes into the game, Nguyễn Chuong cracked a shot to the right of the goalkeeper, 1-2. Nguyễn Phong was not in position, and could only watch the ball fly in. Disappointed in the 1-2 score, the home team went to the dressing room to adjust tactics for the second half.

With 52 minutes on the clock, Lê Dung commited a dangerous tackle. The referee had no choice but to show him the red card. In the 51st minute, one of Thai Nguyen:s players had the ball in front of the goal but got pushed and fell. The referee felt it was an obvious case and blew a penalty for Thai Nguyen. The referee gave MANCHESTER UNITED a penalty, 54 minutes into the game. The penalty shot was made by Phạm Cong Vinh, who made a well placed shot into the net to the right of Thai Nguyen's Nguyễn Phong. 2-2. Thai Nguyen's Nguyễn Phong played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Lê Tho in the 60th minute of play. In the 62nd minute, Nguyễn Chuong got an opportunity to score, but he didn't get a solid hit on the ball and ended up kicking it wide of the goal. Nguyễn Chuong received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 75th minute. Nguyễn Phong tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. An unexpectedly hard shot by Lê Tho in the 79th minute of play forced Thai Nguyen's goalkeeper Nguyễn Phong to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. After some fancy dribbling in the 81st minute, Nguyễn Chuong managed to get in a good position for a shot. MANCHESTER UNITED's supporters rose to their feet, but Nguyễn Chuong was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Nguyễn Phong breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. In the 82nd minute, Lê Tho got an opportunity to score, but he didn't get a solid hit on the ball and ended up kicking it wide of the goal. Phan Dung hit a great freekick 91 minutes into the match. Đặng Dung struck a weak shot in the 92nd minute. Trần Phong didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for Thai Nguyen. Trần Phuong's shot was meant for the net just under the crossbar, but Trần Phong read the situation well and was quickly in position to make a wonderful save in the 93rd minute of play. Thanks to some nice foot action and superb ball handling Nguyễn Chuong in the 95th minute a chance for a shot on goal. With an extended leg and a bit of luck Nguyễn Phong prevented the ball from getting in the gole. After having played for 97 minutes, Lê Tho managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. MANCHESTER UNITED's supporters crossed their fingers, but Lê Tho was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. MANCHESTER UNITED were really happy, having secured the victory after a very even contest. They thanked the players of Thai Nguyen for a fine match.