League

Lai Chau
Spectators: 5000 (Terracing: 4000, Seating: 1000, VIP seats: 0) The field was rather wet after several days of rain when Lê Duc took the kick off in the first half of the match. Nguyễn Tho showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Lê Lam, who was totally free with the ball in the 21st minute. Lê Lam fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 23rd minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Nguyễn Tho having to interfere. With a couple of smart ball manuevers Lê Lam in the 25th managed to get into a good position. With a left leg Nguyễn Tho saved Tien Giang from getting behind. The supporters of Lai Chau booed when Tien Giang was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 26 match minutes in a wonderful position. Hoàng Tho didn't get a good kick on the ball. Ngô Tu came out of the goal in the 29th minute to try and stop a shot by Tien Giang's Lê Duc. But to his dismay, Lê Duc quickly shot the ball in between his legs and into the goal making it 0-1. After 35 played minutes Tien Giang got a freekick which was hit by Trần Tho. 36 minutes into the match, Tien Giang's goal looked a bit too open when Lê Lam came free, but Nguyễn Tho reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. 38 minutes into the match, Lai Chau's Nguyễn Tuan sent off a blazing shot straight on target, a shot that Nguyễn Tho narrowly saved just below the crossbar. The supporters of Lai Chau booed when Tien Giang was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 38 match minutes in a wonderful position. Hoàng Tho didn't get a good kick on the ball. Lê Duc sent away a hard shot on goal in the 42nd minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. After 44 played minutes Tien Giang got a freekick which was hit by Trần Hoa. With his leg Nguyễn Tho managed to avoid a goal in the 45thth minute, when Lai Chau's Nguyễn Tuan fired away a shot with a lot of spin towards his right hand side. 1-1 became the score in the 47th minute when Nguyễn Tuan elegantly shot the ball into goal just under the crossbar. After fighting hard for a draw in the first half, the players were able to take a much needed rest.

The wind increased when Lê Lam made the kick off in the second half. Nguyễn Tuan struck a weak shot in the 58th minute. Nguyễn Tho didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for Lai Chau. A collision led to Tien Giang getting a freekick after 59 minutes play. Trần Hoa hit a great ball. When the match had gone on for 60 minutes, Nguyễn Tuan put it in 2-1 from a short distance just to the right of Nguyễn Tho. 67 minutes into the match, Lai Chau's goal looked a bit too open when Lê Duc came free, but Ngô Tu reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. In the 72nd minute, Trần Tuan hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. If Lê Duc had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 81st minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Huỳnh Binh hit a great freekick 82 minutes into the match. Lai Chau's Ngô Tu played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Lê Duc in the 84th minute of play. With a couple of smart ball manuevers Nguyễn Tuan in the 86th managed to get into a good position. With a left leg Nguyễn Tho saved Tien Giang from getting behind. 87 minutes into the match, Tien Giang's goal looked a bit too open when Lê Lam came free, but Nguyễn Tho reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Tien Giang's Nguyễn Tho played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Lê Lam in the 89th minute of play. When Lê Lam came up free with the goalie in the 97th minute, the Lai Chau fans jumped to their feet. But the shot missed the goal by a fraction of an inch, and the fans sat back down disappointed that Lê Lam couldn't finish the play. Lai Chau's fans were exulted and cheered after their team won in a match that could easily have gone the other way.