League

Dak Lak
Spectators: 5000 (Terracing: 4000, Seating: 1000, VIP seats: 0) Nguyễn Lan made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Nghiêm Nam in the 7th minute of play. Lê Bien might have been able to make a better finish in the 11th minute when he tried to place a hard shot over Nguyễn Lan. Instead the ball went over the crossbar and out. Lê Bien ran back to his position shaking his head. 13 minutes into the match, Thai Binh's goal looked a bit too open when Đặng Thuyet came free, but Nguyễn Lan reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. When Lê Bien came up free with the goalie in the 16th minute, the Dao Phuong 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 Lê Bien couldn't finish the play. After some fancy dribbling in the 19th minute, Lê Bien managed to get in a good position for a shot. Dao Phuong's supporters rose to their feet, but Lê Bien was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Nguyễn Lan breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. In the 20th match minute, Thai Binh was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Nguyễn Duy to maneuver through the defense. Đặng Thuyet sent away a hard shot on goal in the 21st minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. After 27 minutes, Lê Bien mouthed his way into the referee's book. The tension between the Dao Phuong and the Thai Binh players grew even worse after the yellow card. Mai Quang received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 32nd minute. Vũ Hong tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Thai Binh's Nguyễn Lan proved his good apprehension of play when he, in the 34th minute of the match, managed to save Thai Binh from getting a goal against them. Nguyễn Lan showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Đặng Thuyet in the 37th minute of the match. When Hồ Loc fell near the penalty area in the 39th minute he thought he would be awarded a free kick. The referee ignored Thai Binh's protests and gave Hồ Loc a yellow card for diving instead. Hồ Loc hit a great freekick 39 minutes into the match. 40 minutes into the game, Dao Phuong's Lê Bien nearly tore a hole in the net with a booming shot. Nguyễn Lan made a valiant effort, but he could not reach the ball in time, 1-0. Nguyễn Quang hit a great freekick 43 minutes into the match. Nguyễn Lan made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Nghiêm Nam in the 48th minute 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 home team were most fresh-looking when they entered the field to play the second half. Mai Quang was the one to do the kick off. Nguyễn Lan made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Đặng Thuyet in the 60th minute of play. If Đặng Thuyet had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 62nd minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Đặng Thuyet recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 64th minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. In the 66th minute Đặng Thuyet shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Nguyễn Lan saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Nguyễn Lan came out of the goal in the 68th minute to try and stop a shot by Dao Phuong's Đặng Thuyet. But to his dismay, Đặng Thuyet quickly shot the ball in between his legs and into the goal making it 2-0. Phùng Teo's shot straight on target was not completely harmless. The ball had pretty good speed, but Vũ Hong firmly grabbed it by the left post. The referee was alert and spotted a serious foul by Phan Tuan during the 77th minute. The player immediately received a yellow card. In a very dangerous position, a player in Dao Phuong fell when an opponent tried to get the ball from him in the 77th minute. Penalty! In the 79th minute there was a penalty for Thai Binh. Nguyễn Than stepped forward and shot the ball to the right of a diving Vũ Hong. 2-1. Mai Quang recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 82nd minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. The supporters of Dao Phuong booed when Thai Binh was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 85 match minutes in a wonderful position. Nguyễn Duy didn't get a good kick on the ball. In the 86th minute, Phan Tuan sent off a long shot on goal, but the shot was nowhere near the goal and Thai Binh's Nguyễn Lan didn't even have to move. After having played for 87 minutes, Đặng Thuyet managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. Dao Phuong's supporters crossed their fingers, but Đặng Thuyet was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. If Lê Bien had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 89th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Đặng Thuyet sent away a hard shot on goal in the 91st minute, but the ball hit the crossbar and went out. A very good chance for a goal. Nguyễn Thien hit a great freekick 99 minutes into the match. Dao Phuong's supporters were delighted with their team's performance and swarmed onto the pitch at the end of the match to celebrate the victory with the players.