League

Yen Bai
Spectators: 5000 (Terracing: 4000, Seating: 1000, VIP seats: 0) The field was rather wet after several days of rain when Trần Tuan Hoang took the kick off in the first half of the match. Nguyễn Pham kicked well hit freekick during the 5th minute of the match. After having played for 6 minutes, Trần Tuan Hoang managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. Yen Bai's supporters crossed their fingers, but Trần Tuan Hoang was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. A collision led to Yen Bai getting a freekick after 9 minutes play. Lê Loc hit a great ball. Yen Bai's Lê Hieu played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Lê Nguyet in the 13th minute of play. After some careless play in the Nam Dinh defense, Liễu Lien kicked a shot that curved into the net to the right of Trần Duc. The Nam Dinh fans voiced their displeasure as they felt that Trần Duc should have stopped the shot. 21 minutes into the match, Yen Bai's goal looked a bit too open when Lê Nguyet came free, but Lê Hieu reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. 23 minutes into the match, Nam Dinh's goalkeeper Trần Duc had to clear away a ball on his right side after a cunning shot by Liễu Lien. In the 28th minute of the match Đào Nam shot from a long distance. The ball could have gone into the goal to the right of the goalkeeper, but Lê Hieu showed his good shape when he easily got hold of the ball. In the 30th minute, Lê Loc hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. Nam Dinh's Phạm Liem got a good chance for a goal in the 32nd minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. Liễu Lien received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 34th minute. Trần Duc tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. 36 minutes into the match, Yen Bai's Liễu Lien sent off a blazing shot straight on target, a shot that Trần Duc narrowly saved just below the crossbar. In the 38th minute, Yen Bai's Trần Tuan Hoang ran free of his marker and smoothly shot the ball into the goal behind Trần Duc. Trần Duc yelled at his defense, as they had left him out to dry. 2-0. After 42 played minutes Yen Bai got a freekick which was hit by Nguyễn Duong. The away team players looked dejected as the walked off the pitch at half time. They had fought hard, but were still losing 2-0.

The players of the home team were most fresh-looking when they entered the field to play the second half. Phạm Liem was the one to do the kick off. In the 54thth minute of the game Phạm Liem who was perfectly placed tried to make a shot on goal, but Yen Bai's Lê Hieu was lucky and managed to grab hold of the ball. Trần Tuan Hoang hit a great freekick 56 minutes into the match. In the 57th match minute, Nam Dinh was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Trần Loc to maneuver through the defense. The referee was alert and spotted a serious foul by Nguyễn Huynh Duc during the 59th minute. The player immediately received a yellow card. A collision led to Nam Dinh getting a freekick after 59 minutes play. Nguyễn Huynh Duc hit a great ball. If Liễu Lien had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 61st minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. If Trần Tuan Hoang had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 62nd minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Phạm Liem recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 73rd minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. Lê Hieu showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Phạm Liem in the 76th minute of the match. Liễu Lien hit a great freekick 79 minutes into the match. Phạm Liem received a nice pass, split the defenders, and ran untouched towards the goal. Lê Hieu came out and tried to block the shot, but Phạm Liem slotted it home off the left post making it 2-3 in the 82nd minute. Yen Bai's Liễu Lien got a good chance for a goal in the 92nd minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. Liễu Lien's shot was meant for the net just under the crossbar, but Trần Duc read the situation well and was quickly in position to make a wonderful save in the 94th minute of play. If Liễu Lien had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 96th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. The referee blew the final whistle, and the away crowd roared, having watched Nam Dinh eke out a victory against a very well matched opponent.