League

Cao Lanh
Spectators: 5000 (Terracing: 4000, Seating: 1000, VIP seats: 0) Cao Lanh's Nguyễn Hong 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. In the 4th match minute, Cao Lanh was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Nguyễn Hoang to maneuver through the defense. In the 5th minute of the match Vũ Minh-ha sent off a long shot with destination to the right of the goalkeeper, but Liễu Quang skillfully saved the ball. Liễu Quang made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Huỳnh Tấn Dũng in the 10th minute of play. After 12 minutes, Đào Huynh Duc mouthed his way into the referee's book. The tension between the Cao Lanh and the Lao Cai players grew even worse after the yellow card. The referee gave Lao Cai a penalty, 14 minutes into the game. The penalty shot was made by Vũ Minh-ha, who made a well placed shot into the net to the right of Cao Lanh's Liễu Quang. 0-1. Thanks to some nice foot action and superb ball handling Ngô Binh in the 17th minute a chance for a shot on goal. With an extended leg and a bit of luck Liễu Quang prevented the ball from getting in the gole. Ngô Binh sent away a hard shot on goal in the 19th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. In the 20th minute, Huỳnh Tấn Dũng ran past the defenders and hit a shot which went straight ahead into goal. Liễu Quang was frozen by the shot and now it was 0-2. After 23 played minutes Cao Lanh got a freekick which was hit by Phùng Thanh Bình. Liễu Quang took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Ngô Binh, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Liễu Quang showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Ngô Binh in the 28th minute of the match. In the 32nd minute, Ngô Binh ran past the defenders and hit a shot which went straight ahead into goal. Liễu Quang was frozen by the shot and now it was 0-3. The supporters of Lao Cai booed when Cao Lanh was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 34 match minutes in a wonderful position. Nguyễn Tuyet didn't get a good kick on the ball. 37 minutes into the game, Lê Lien was given a yellow card after he appeared to trip an opposing player. Lao Cai's manager was livid on the sidelines, but the referee was unmoved and gave Cao Lanh the free kick. After 37 played minutes Lao Cai got a freekick which was hit by Lê Lien. When Nguyễn Hoang fell near the penalty area in the 41st minute he thought he would be awarded a free kick. The referee ignored Cao Lanh's protests and gave Nguyễn Hoang a yellow card for diving instead. A collision led to Cao Lanh getting a freekick after 41 minutes play. Nguyễn Hoang hit a great ball. Lê Lien scored 0-4 in the 43rd match minute with a shot that went into the goal to the right of Liễu Quang, who was just a little too slow in reacting to the shot. An unexpectedly hard shot by Ngô Binh in the 47th minute of play forced Cao Lanh's goalkeeper Liễu Quang to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Luck had favoured the away team in the first, and they walked off with a 0-4 lead.

The players of the home team were most fresh-looking when they entered the field to play the second half. Ngô Binh was the one to do the kick off. Ngô Binh received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 53rd minute. Liễu Quang tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Lê Phuong took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Nguyễn Hong, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. After having played for 60 minutes, Huỳnh Tấn Dũng managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. Lao Cai's supporters crossed their fingers, but Huỳnh Tấn Dũng was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. Cao Lanh's Liễu Quang played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Ngô Binh in the 61st minute of play. Lê Phuong stood for a superb save when he managed to get hold of Nguyễn Hong's shot from short distance in the 63rd minute. An unexpectedly hard shot by Ngô Binh in the 68th minute of play forced Cao Lanh's goalkeeper Liễu Quang to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. If Huỳnh Tấn Dũng had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 71st minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Đào Huynh Duc kicked well hit freekick during the 75th minute of the match. Nguyễn Hong fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 78th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Lê Phuong having to interfere. Nguyễn Hong blasted a shot towards the goal in the 81st minute, but the shot hit the top of the crossbar and went out without Lê Phuong having to make a save. Huỳnh Tấn Dũng's shot was meant for the net just under the crossbar, but Liễu Quang read the situation well and was quickly in position to make a wonderful save in the 88th minute of play. When the match had gone on for 91 minutes, Ngô Binh took a quick shot and it went in 0-5 without a chance for Liễu Quang to make any attempt to save it. After 94 minutes, Huỳnh Tấn Dũng mouthed his way into the referee's book. The tension between the Lao Cai and the Cao Lanh players grew even worse after the yellow card. The Lao Cai supporters could be heard counting down the last seconds of the match. They errupted in celebration when the whistle blew, knowing Lao Cai would go home with victory in their luggage after a match that easily could have ended differently.