League

Son La
Spectators: 5000 (Terracing: 4000, Seating: 1000, VIP seats: 0) Son La's Lê Nam 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. After a defensive mix-up in Son La's zone, Nguyễn Hong Minh stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. La Thanh came out of the goal and Nguyễn Hong Minh tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. Cam Ranh's Phạm Tran suffered a concussion after 4 minutes and had to leave the field. The supporters of Cam Ranh booed when Son La was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 5 match minutes in a wonderful position. Võ Tấn Dũng didn't get a good kick on the ball. La Thanh took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Nguyễn Hong Minh, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. 19 minutes had been played when some careless play by Son La's defense caused the ball to cross the line for a corner. Nguyễn Khoi was slow to take the kick. During this time Cam Ranh's players had a chance to rest. The corner led Cam Ranh's Nguyễn Khoi to fire away a dangerous shot which La Thanh despite some difficulties managed to get hold on the ball. Through an outstanding action, after 20 minutes, Bùi Hoa successfully got his hands on the ball before it slid into the goal at the right post. Son La's Hoàng Nhật Minh got a good chance for a goal in the 22nd minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. When Cam Ranh's Nguyễn Hong Minh, in the 26th minute, received a pass right in front of the net, it looked like a certain goal, but his shot went outside. A wasted opportunity for Cam Ranh. Võ Tấn Dũng was shown his second yellow card after 27 minutes, following a rather ugly tackle on opponent. That was the end of his participation in the match. When Nguyễn Khoi came up free with the goalie in the 29th minute, the Cam Ranh 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 Nguyễn Khoi couldn't finish the play. Lê Nam recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 39th minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. Bùi Hoa was in the perfect position, and the defense had done a good job marking him, but Hoàng Nhật Minh showcased his skills and made a perfect shot to score 2-0 in the 42 minute of play. Lê Nam received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 46th minute. La Thanh tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. No-one was surprised that the home team were leading 2-0 at half-time.

The wind increased when Nguyễn Hong Minh made the kick off in the second half. Nguyễn Teo sent away a hard shot on goal in the 56th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. 61 minutes into the game, Nguyễn Duong was given a yellow card after he appeared to trip an opposing player. Cam Ranh's manager was livid on the sidelines, but the referee was unmoved and gave Son La the free kick. Nguyễn Duong kicked well hit freekick during the 62nd minute of the match. With a couple of smart ball manuevers Hoàng Nhật Minh in the 63rd managed to get into a good position. With a left leg Bùi Hoa saved Cam Ranh from getting behind. After 64 minutes of play, Cam Ranh's Nguyễn Hong Minh made it 2-1 when he simply outclassed the defender marking him and hit a curling shot into the right side of the net. La Thanh was left in no man's land by his defense there! If Hoàng Nhật Minh had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 68th minute. The ball went over the crossbar instead. La Thanh made an important save on a dangerous shot by Nguyễn Hong Minh in the 74th minute. Lê Nam's late challenge caught a Cam Ranh's player on the shin and left him crawling around in pain. The referee blew his whistle and produced the yellow card. Lê Nam helped the player get up and apologised. After 75 played minutes Son La got a freekick which was hit by Lê Nam. In the 77th minute, Nguyễn Khoi hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. Bùi Hoa made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Trần Nhật Minh in the 81st minute of play. Lê Nam hit a great freekick 83 minutes into the match. Lê Nam's shot was meant for the net just under the crossbar, but Bùi Hoa read the situation well and was quickly in position to make a wonderful save in the 86th minute of play. Bùi Hoa came out of the goal in the 87th minute to try and stop a shot by Son La's Hoàng Nhật Minh. But to his dismay, Hoàng Nhật Minh quickly shot the ball in between his legs and into the goal making it 3-1. In the 92nd minute the ball was on its way in behind Cam Ranh's goalkeeper Bùi Hoa, but with the help of a sacrificing defense, he could catch the ball at the crossbar. The crowd rose to their feet and cheered when the referee blew the final whistle. Son La had won after a very even match.