League

Can Tho
Spectators: 5000 (Terracing: 4000, Seating: 1000, VIP seats: 0) Haichuafc's Chung Tran 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. Chung Tran received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 19th minute. Phan Cuc tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Chung Tran struck a weak shot in the 23rd minute. Phan Cuc didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for Haichuafc. Nguyễn Minh-ha took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Nguyễn Mai, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Trần Nhật Minh recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 34th minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. A collision led to Can Tho getting a freekick after 35 minutes play. Lê Diem hit a great ball. 39 minutes into the match, Haichuafc's goal looked a bit too open when Nguyễn Mai came free, but Nguyễn Minh-ha reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Phạm Quang fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 40th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Nguyễn Minh-ha having to interfere. After 42 played minutes Haichuafc got a freekick which was hit by Nguyễn Binh. The supporters of Haichuafc booed when Can Tho was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 44 match minutes in a wonderful position. Nguyễn Mai didn't get a good kick on the ball. After a defensive mix-up in Haichuafc's zone, Nguyễn Mai stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Nguyễn Minh-ha came out of the goal and Nguyễn Mai tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. All the noise was coming from the home fans when the whistle went for half-time. The home team had fought hardest to put themselves in a deserved lead.

The players of the away team seemed most concentrated when Nguyễn Mai stepped up to make the kick off in the second half. After a rather tough play, Can Tho's Nguyễn Bay got a free kick in the 54th minute. Can Tho's Phan Cuc proved his good apprehension of play when he, in the 57th minute of the match, managed to save Can Tho from getting a goal against them. Phan Cuc took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Chung Tran, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. In the 60th minute of the match Haichuafc got a corner. Can Tho's goalie ran out to the linesman to protest the call, but the linesman resolutely pointed his flag at the cornerflag. Phan Nga ran over to the corner to take the kick. Thanks to some nice foot action and superb ball handling Chung Tran in the 62nd minute a chance for a shot on goal. With an extended leg and a bit of luck Phan Cuc prevented the ball from getting in the gole. Trần Nhật Minh sent away a hard shot on goal in the 65th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. A collision led to Can Tho getting a freekick after 66 minutes play. Lê Diem hit a great ball. Trần Nhật Minh received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 67th minute. Phan Cuc tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. In the 68th match minute, Can Tho was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Nguyễn Dong to maneuver through the defense. Phạm Quang sent away a hard shot on goal in the 74th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Phạm Quang received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 76th minute. Nguyễn Minh-ha tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. The referee was alert and spotted a serious foul by Triệu Minh-ha during the 78th minute. The player immediately received a yellow card. In the 77th minute, one of Haichuafc: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 Haichuafc. Nguyễn Minh-ha went to the wrong direction when Lê Ho was taking care of the penalty kick which however missed the goal. If Chung Tran had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 83rd minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Lê Diem hit a great freekick 84 minutes into the match. After 85 played minutes, Haichuafc's Phan Nga shot from a long distance, and at first it looked like the ball was going into the goal, but the goalkeeper Phan Cuc came through and got his fingers on the ball before it flew over the goal line. He then quickly gripped the ball tighter before the forwards in Haichuafc reached it. 89 minutes into the match, Can Tho's Lê Diem sent off a blazing shot straight on target, a shot that Nguyễn Minh-ha narrowly saved just below the crossbar. 90 minutes into the game, one of Haichuafc:s players got tackled near the goal, and the referee blew for a penalty. Lê Ho shot the penalty kick by force right in the crossbar. No goal. Nguyễn Minh-ha made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Nguyễn Mai in the 94th minute of play. The supporters of Haichuafc booed when Can Tho was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 98 match minutes in a wonderful position. Lê Diem didn't get a good kick on the ball. Lê Diem got his second yellow card in the match during the 100th minute which meant that he had to leave the ground. In the 100th match minute, Can Tho was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Lê Diem to maneuver through the defense. With a little luck, Can Tho's Phan Cuc got control of the ball when Trần Nhật Minh tried to sneak it across the goal line. Haichuafc's players left the field with heads hung low after losing a match that had been finely balanced throughout.