League

Lao Cai
Spectators: 5000 (Terracing: 4000, Seating: 1000, VIP seats: 0) Bac Ninh's Nguyễn Viet 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. With a couple of smart ball manuevers Mai Phong in the 6th managed to get into a good position. With a left leg Tạ Nga saved Bac Ninh from getting behind. Nguyễn Thi showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Phạm Tong in the 16th minute of the match. Trần Hanh kicked well hit freekick during the 17th minute of the match. An unexpectedly hard shot by Phan Tho in the 22nd minute of play forced Lao Cai's goalkeeper Nguyễn Thi to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. After 26 played minutes Lao Cai got a freekick which was hit by Nguyễn Tran. 28 minutes into the match, Bac Ninh's goalkeeper Tạ Nga had to clear away a ball on his right side after a cunning shot by Lý Minh-ha. 32 minutes into the match, Nguyễn Viet notched a goal, 0-2, to the right of Lao Cai's Nguyễn Thi. Nguyễn Thi was clearly disgusted with the effort of the defense and let the defenders know about it. Lý Minh-ha struck a weak shot in the 38th minute. Tạ Nga didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for Lao Cai. A hard shot 40 in the game by Lý Minh-ha from a close distance when the talented Tạ Nga managed to make a qualified save. Bac Ninh's players were relieved. The Lao Cai players were disheartened as they walked off the pitch after the first half. Bac Ninh were winning 0-2.

The wind increased when Mai Phong made the kick off in the second half. In the 53rd minute, Trần Phong hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. In the 54th minute of the match Nguyễn Binh shot from a long distance. The ball could have gone into the goal to the right of the goalkeeper, but Tạ Nga showed his good shape when he easily got hold of the ball. Tạ Nga showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Mai Phong, who was totally free with the ball in the 57th minute. Tạ Nga showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Mai Phong in the 61st minute of the match. If Lý Minh-ha had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 69th minute. The ball went over the crossbar instead. In the 71stth minute of the game Lý Minh-ha who was perfectly placed tried to make a shot on goal, but Bac Ninh's Tạ Nga was lucky and managed to grab hold of the ball. Phạm Tong blasted a shot towards the goal in the 74th minute, but the shot hit the top of the crossbar and went out without Nguyễn Thi having to make a save. The long shot by Nguyễn Phuong in the 76th minute really tested Nguyễn Thi's skills. The ball was on its way into the goal to the left of him when he managed to stretch himself and save the shot and avoid a goal. In the 78th minute Mai Phong shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Tạ Nga saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Nguyễn Viet recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 79th minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. Tạ Nga made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Mai Phong in the 82nd minute of play. Lý Minh-ha blasted a shot towards the goal in the 83rd minute, but the shot hit the top of the crossbar and went out without Tạ Nga having to make a save. Trần Phong's late challenge caught a Lao Cai's player on the shin and left him crawling around in pain. The referee blew his whistle and produced the yellow card. Trần Phong helped the player get up and apologised. When Lý Minh-ha came up free with the goalie in the 92nd minute, the Lao Cai 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 Lý Minh-ha couldn't finish the play. Mai Phong fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 93rd minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Tạ Nga having to interfere. Lý Minh-ha struck a weak shot in the 99th minute. Tạ Nga didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for Lao Cai. The Bac Ninh supporters could be heard counting down the last seconds of the match. They errupted in celebration when the whistle blew, knowing Bac Ninh would go home with victory in their luggage after a match that easily could have ended differently.