League

Long Xuyês
Spectators: 5000 (Terracing: 4000, Seating: 1000, VIP seats: 0) Dark clouds were building up when the players entered the field. None of the them looked very eager to play. Lê Phu started the match with the kick off. After a rather tough play, ⭐Vietnam Stars⭐'s Trần Hong Minh got a free kick in the 4th minute. Nguyễn Tan made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Trần Duc in the 6th minute of play. With an all-out effort, ⭐Vietnam Stars⭐'s Nguyễn Tan threw himself towards the right post 7 minutes into the match and grabbed hold of the ball from Phạm Ritchell, which otherwise would have been placed in the net. 8 minutes into the game, Lương Hoai was given a yellow card after he appeared to trip an opposing player. Ninh Binh's manager was livid on the sidelines, but the referee was unmoved and gave ⭐Vietnam Stars⭐ the free kick. After some fancy dribbling in the 9th minute, Nguyễn Ho managed to get in a good position for a shot. ⭐Vietnam Stars⭐'s supporters rose to their feet, but Nguyễn Ho was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Nguyễn Tan breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. Nguyễn Van Tai Em's late challenge caught a ⭐Vietnam Stars⭐'s player on the shin and left him crawling around in pain. The referee blew his whistle and produced the yellow card. Nguyễn Van Tai Em helped the player get up and apologised. The supporters of ⭐Vietnam Stars⭐ booed when Ninh Binh was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 12 match minutes in a wonderful position. Nguyễn Van Tai Em didn't get a good kick on the ball. If Phùng Tuan had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 19th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. If Phạm Ritchell had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 23rd minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. In the 26th minute, Trần Duc hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. In the 27th minute Phùng Tuan shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Võ Tinh saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Võ Tinh made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Phùng Tuan in the 28th minute of play. The audience was convinced that Phùng Tuan's extremely hard shot when he got free in front of the goal was going in, but Võ Tinh was relentless in the 30th minute of the game. In the 40th minute, Nguyễn Hoa hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. In the 42nd minute, Nguyễn Thuy got an opportunity to score, but he didn't get a solid hit on the ball and ended up kicking it wide of the goal. After a rather tough play, Ninh Binh's Lê Phu got a free kick in the 45th minute. Nguyễn Tan showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Phạm Ritchell, who was totally free with the ball in the 47th minute. No-one was surprised that the home team were leading 1-0 at half-time.

The players of the away team seemed most concentrated when Phạm Ritchell stepped up to make the kick off in the second half. Lê Phu received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 51st minute. Võ Tinh tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. After some fancy dribbling in the 53rd minute, Lê Phu managed to get in a good position for a shot. Ninh Binh's supporters rose to their feet, but Lê Phu was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Võ Tinh breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. In the 56th minute of the match, Lê Phu tried to roll the ball into the goal by the right post, but Võ Tinh saw his intentions and got control of the ball before it passed the line. If Phùng Tuan had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 56th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Phùng Tuan sent away a hard shot on goal in the 58th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. After some careless play in the ⭐Vietnam Stars⭐ defense, Phùng Tuan kicked a shot that curved into the net to the right of Võ Tinh. The ⭐Vietnam Stars⭐ fans voiced their displeasure as they felt that Võ Tinh should have stopped the shot. Phùng Tuan 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. If Phùng Tuan had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 69th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Võ Tinh took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Lê Phu, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Nguyễn Van Tai Em was really disappointed when he shot the ball just outside the right post instead of scoring a goal in the 73rd minute. Ninh Binh's manager could be seen on the sidelines shaking his head and muttering to himself as his team had just wasted another chance. Phùng Tuans short, quick shot in the 75thth minute got Võ Tinh to make great effort and bar the ball away from getting in. Lê Phu fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 76th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Võ Tinh having to interfere. Nguyễn Cong Vinh charged in rather forcefully in the 83rd minute of the match, and managed to knock his opponent down. The referee showed Nguyễn Cong Vinh the yellow card, and asked the players to shake hands before continuing play. The supporters of ⭐Vietnam Stars⭐ booed when Ninh Binh was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 83 match minutes in a wonderful position. Nguyễn Cong Vinh didn't get a good kick on the ball. Nguyễn Tan made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Phạm Ritchell in the 84th minute of play. Trần Duc received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 95th minute. Nguyễn Tan tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Ninh Binh's Nguyễn Van Tai Em got a good chance for a goal in the 98th minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. Ninh Binh's supporters were very happy and cheered loudly because their team had won after a very close match.