Back to top
Match Report
Thai Nguyen
Spectators: 5000 (Terracing: 4000,
Seating: 1000, VIP seats: 0) The field was rather wet after several days of rain when Nguyễn Phuc took the kick off in the first half of the match. Bùi Lien recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 6th minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. After 9 minutes, Nguyễn Phuc mouthed his way into the referee's book. The tension between the Ho Chi Minh City and the Thai Nguyen players grew even worse after the yellow card. The supporters of Thai Nguyen booed when Ho Chi Minh City was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 9 match minutes in a wonderful position. Nguyễn Phuc didn't get a good kick on the ball. In the 9th minute, Phan Phuoc fired a really elegant long shot, but Nguyễn Hoa threw himself and managed to get hold of the ball just in front of the right post. An unexpectedly hard shot by Nguyễn Phuc in the 11th minute of play forced Ho Chi Minh City's goalkeeper Nguyễn Hoa to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Thanks to some nice foot action and superb ball handling Bùi Lien in the 15th 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. Bùi Lien sent away a hard shot on goal in the 18th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. With his leg Nguyễn Hoa managed to avoid a goal in the 20thth minute, when Thai Nguyen's Đặng Dung fired away a shot with a lot of spin towards his right hand side. Lê Duc sent away a hard shot on goal in the 23rd minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. 25 minutes into the match, Thai Nguyen's goal looked a bit too open when Lê Duc came free, but Nguyễn Phong reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Đặng Dung sent away a hard shot on goal in the 28th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Nguyễn Hoa made an important save on a dangerous shot by Nguyễn Phuc in the 30th minute. After 36 minutes of play, Ho Chi Minh City's Bùi Lien made it 0-1 when he simply outclassed the defender marking him and hit a curling shot into the right side of the net. Nguyễn Phong was left in no man's land by his defense there! Bùi Lien struck a weak shot in the 41st minute. Nguyễn Phong didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for Ho Chi Minh City. In the 43rd minute, Thai Nguyen's Nguyễn Phuc dribbled the ball into the box and hit a shot with the outside of his foot, sending the keeper the wrong way. 1-1. Nguyễn Dinh hit a great freekick 46 minutes into the match. After fighting hard for a draw in the first half, the players were able to take a much needed rest.
The wind increased when Bùi Lien made the kick off in the second half. A collision led to Ho Chi Minh City getting a freekick after 51 minutes play. Phùng Hoai hit a great ball. If Nguyễn Phuc had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 53rd minute. The ball went over the crossbar instead. After some careless play in the Ho Chi Minh City defense, Trần Phuong kicked a shot that curved into the net to the right of Nguyễn Hoa. The Ho Chi Minh City fans voiced their displeasure as they felt that Nguyễn Hoa should have stopped the shot. An unexpectedly hard shot by Bùi Lien in the 68th minute of play forced Thai Nguyen's goalkeeper Nguyễn Phong to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Lê Dung charged in rather forcefully in the 72nd minute of the match, and managed to knock his opponent down. The referee showed Lê Dung the yellow card, and asked the players to shake hands before continuing play. Lê Dung hit a great freekick 73 minutes into the match. Lê Duc fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 78th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Nguyễn Phong having to interfere. Nguyễn Phong made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Bùi Lien in the 88th minute of play. Lê Duc received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 94th minute. Nguyễn Phong tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Thai Nguyen's fans were exulted and cheered after their team won in a match that could easily have gone the other way.
Change language
