Lao Cai
Spectators: 35 (Terracing: 27,
Seating: 8, VIP seats: 0) Manchester United's Lý Ho 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. Nguyễn Tấn Dũng stood for a superb save when he managed to get hold of Tạ Van Tai Em's shot from short distance in the 4th minute. If Nguyễn Thi had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 5th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. In the 10th minute, Nguyễn Hong made a precise shot to the right of Nghiêm Dung. SaiGon's defense was at fault, and the scoreboard reflected the new score, 1-1. Tạ Van Tai Em struck a weak shot in the 16th minute. Nguyễn Tấn Dũng didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for SaiGon. After a defensive mix-up in SaiGon's zone, Nguyễn Hong stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Nghiêm Dung came out of the goal and Nguyễn Hong tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. The referee was alert and spotted a serious foul by Trần Phu during the 19th minute. The player immediately received a yellow card. Lý Ho sent away a hard shot on goal in the 20th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. 22 minutes into the match, Manchester United's Lý Ho sent off a blazing shot straight on target, a shot that Nghiêm Dung narrowly saved just below the crossbar. In the 24th minute the ball was on its way in behind SaiGon's goalkeeper Nghiêm Dung, but with the help of a sacrificing defense, he could catch the ball at the crossbar. Nguyễn Hong fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 25th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Nghiêm Dung having to interfere. Lương Ritchell took a chance and fired a shot far from the goal in the 28th minute, but it turned out to be a dangerous situation for Nghiêm Dung. SaiGon's goalkeeper really had to stretch himself to stop the ball from crossing the goal line. In the 29th minute Tạ Van Tai Em shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Nguyễn Tấn Dũng saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. If Tạ Van Tai Em had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 30th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Nguyễn Hong sent away a hard shot on goal in the 36th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. In the 38th minute Lý Ho shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Nghiêm Dung saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. In the 40th minute Lý Ho shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Nghiêm Dung saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. After having played for 46 minutes, Tạ Van Tai Em managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. SaiGon's supporters crossed their fingers, but Tạ Van Tai Em was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. 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 players of the away team seemed most concentrated when Tạ Van Tai Em stepped up to make the kick off in the second half. 53 minutes into the game, Nguyễn Thi cracked a shot to the right of the goalkeeper, 2-1. Nguyễn Tấn Dũng was not in position, and could only watch the ball fly in. Nguyễn Thi sent away a hard shot on goal in the 57th minute, but the ball hit the crossbar and went out. A very good chance for a goal. Nguyễn Hong fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 70th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Nghiêm Dung having to interfere. In the 72nd minute, Nguyễn Thi hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. After a rather tough play, Manchester United's Phạm Tan got a free kick in the 75th minute. Nghiêm Dung had great luck who in the 78thth minute grab hold of the ball when Lý Ho from a short distance tried to put the ball inside the right post. Nguyễn Thi's shot was meant for the net just under the crossbar, but Nguyễn Tấn Dũng read the situation well and was quickly in position to make a wonderful save in the 81st minute of play. The audience was convinced that Tạ Van Tai Em's extremely hard shot when he got free in front of the goal was going in, but Nguyễn Tấn Dũng was relentless in the 83rd minute of the game. In the 85th minute Nguyễn Thi shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Nguyễn Tấn Dũng saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. After having played for 92 minutes, Huỳnh Thanh managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. Manchester United's supporters crossed their fingers, but Huỳnh Thanh was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. The referee blew his whistle, and the match came to a close. The players exchanged shirts and headed down the tunnel. The SaiGon fans cheered their team off the field, for while Manchester United had put up a good fight, they were unable to come out of the game with any points to show for their effort.
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