League

Sa Pa
Spectators: 5000 (Terracing: 4000, Seating: 1000, VIP seats: 0) The mood of the audience was pleasant when Nguyễn Duong made the kick off which started today's match. Phạm Nhật Minh came out of the goal in the 4th minute to try and stop a shot by Mong Cai's Mai Thi Ngoc. But to his dismay, Mai Thi Ngoc quickly shot the ball in between his legs and into the goal making it 0-1. After some fancy dribbling in the 11th minute, Nguyễn Thuyet managed to get in a good position for a shot. The Whales's supporters rose to their feet, but Nguyễn Thuyet was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Tôn Tu breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. Hồ Tuyet hit a great freekick 13 minutes into the match. Nguyễn Duong received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 17th minute. Phạm Nhật Minh tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. An unexpectedly hard shot by Nguyễn Thuyet in the 21st minute of play forced Mong Cai's goalkeeper Tôn Tu to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Phạm Nhật Minh showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Võ Tuan in the 23rd minute of the match. In the 26th minute, Nguyễn Duong 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. An unexpectedly hard shot by Nguyễn Thuyet in the 30th minute of play forced Mong Cai's goalkeeper Tôn Tu to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. After 30 played minutes Mong Cai got a freekick which was hit by Đinh Anh Hung. Phạm Nhật Minh took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Võ Tuan, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. A collision led to Mong Cai getting a freekick after 40 minutes play. Triệu Diem hit a great ball. Nguyễn Duong succeeded in the game's 43rd minute to shoot an unreachable shot under the crossbar and scored - 0-2. Disappointed in the 0-2 score, the home team went to the dressing room to adjust tactics for the second half.

The players of the away team seemed most concentrated when Nguyễn Thuyet stepped up to make the kick off in the second half. After having played for 53 minutes, Nghiêm Ho managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. The Whales's supporters crossed their fingers, but Nghiêm Ho was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. Nghiêm Ho took the ball and in the 55 minute, shot a rapid shot to the right of a surprised Tôn Tu. Tôn Tu dived to the right, and did manage to get a hand on the shot, but it still went into the right corner making it 1-2. Phạm Nhật Minh made an important save on a dangerous shot by Võ Tuan in the 63rd minute. If Nguyễn Thuyet had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 64th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. In the 67th minute, Nguyễn Duong 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. In the 69th minute, Võ Tuan 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. Mong Cai's Tôn Tu played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Nghiêm Ho in the 75th minute of play. In the 76th minute the ball was on its way in behind Mong Cai's goalkeeper Tôn Tu, but with the help of a sacrificing defense, he could catch the ball at the crossbar. With a couple of smart ball manuevers Nguyễn Duong in the 80th managed to get into a good position. With a left leg Phạm Nhật Minh saved The Whales from getting behind. If Nguyễn Duong had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 81st minute. The ball went over the crossbar instead. In the 90th minute, Võ Tuan 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. The Mong Cai supporters could be heard counting down the last seconds of the match. They errupted in celebration when the whistle blew, knowing Mong Cai would go home with victory in their luggage after a match that easily could have ended differently.