League Play-Off

Dong Ha
Spectators: 39 (Terracing: 30, Seating: 9, VIP seats: 0) The field was rather wet after several days of rain when Nguyễn Thuyet took the kick off in the first half of the match. Phạm Tran made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Nguyễn Thuyet in the 4th minute of play. After 10 played minutes, United Fandom FC's Nguyễn Tinh shot from a long distance, and at first it looked like the ball was going into the goal, but the goalkeeper Phạm Nhật Minh 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 United Fandom FC reached it. Nguyễn Than hit a great freekick 16 minutes into the match. After having played for 26 minutes, Chung Hieu Ngan managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. United Fandom FC's supporters crossed their fingers, but Chung Hieu Ngan was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. In the 29th minute, Nguyễn Tuan Hoang ran past the defenders and hit a shot which went straight ahead into goal. Phạm Nhật Minh was frozen by the shot and now it was 1-0. When the match clock showed 31 minutes, the score became 1-1 when Nghiêm Ho sped through United Fandom FC's defense and sent away a curving shot that went into the net to the right of Phạm Tran. Phạm Tran made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Nguyễn Thuyet in the 41st minute of play. After a rather tough play, United Fandom FC's Phan Hoa got a free kick in the 43rd minute. The Whales's Lương Duong couldn't find anyone to pass the ball to, so he shot a long shot towards the goal in the 44th minute. The shot went wide which resulted in a goal kick for United Fandom FC. Chung Hieu Ngan fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 46th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Phạm Nhật Minh having to interfere. After a very even first half the match was still tied. The players went to their respective dressing rooms to discuss the tactics for the second half.

The hometeam waved at the audience when it was time for Chung Hieu Ngan to strike the kick off in the second half. In the 50th minute, Phan Hoa hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. Nghiêm Ho fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 52nd minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Phạm Tran having to interfere. The audience thought a goal was coming when Nghiêm Ho got free with Phạm Tran in the 53rd minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. In the 57th minute, Lê Van Tai Em hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. The supporters of The Whales booed when United Fandom FC was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 59 match minutes in a wonderful position. Phan Hoa didn't get a good kick on the ball. In a very dangerous position, a player in United Fandom FC fell when an opponent tried to get the ball from him in the 68th minute. Penalty! The referee gave The Whales a penalty, 70 minutes into the game. The penalty shot was made by Lương Duong, who made a well placed shot into the net to the right of United Fandom FC's Phạm Tran. 1-2. Nghiêm Ho received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 74th minute. Phạm Tran tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. 76 minutes into the match, United Fandom FC's goal looked a bit too open when Nguyễn Thuyet came free, but Phạm Tran reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. If Phan Hoa had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 81st minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. In the 85th minute Nguyễn Tuan Hoang shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Phạm Nhật Minh saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. In the 89th match minute, United Fandom FC was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Nguyễn Hanh to maneuver through the defense. 90 minutes into the match, The Whales's Lương Duong broke free and took a long shot that unfortunately flew wide. A fine initiative that could have resulted in a goal. The Whales's supporters were very happy and cheered loudly because their team had won after a very close match.