League

Lao Cai
Spectators: 5000 (Terracing: 4000, Seating: 1000, VIP seats: 0) Lê Chung made the kick off and thus started the match. When the match had gone on for 3 minutes, Nguyễn Xuan put it in 0-1 from a short distance just to the right of Lê Phuong. Lao Cai's Lê Phuong played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Mai Thanh Bình in the 7th minute of play. Lê Phuong didn't have a chance when a screaming shot from Mai Thanh Bình went, in the 9th minute, to the upper right corner, 0-2 was the resulting score. 16 minutes into the game, Nguyễn Anh Hung cracked a shot to the right of the goalkeeper, 1-2. La Loc was not in position, and could only watch the ball fly in. Lao Cai's Lê Phuong played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Nguyễn Xuan in the 22nd minute of play. When Nguyễn Duc fell near the penalty area in the 24th minute he thought he would be awarded a free kick. The referee ignored Lao Cai's protests and gave Nguyễn Duc a yellow card for diving instead. After a rather tough play, Lao Cai's Nguyễn Duc got a free kick in the 24th minute. Lao Cai's Nguyễn Anh Hung got a good chance for a goal in the 27th minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. Nguyễn Anh Hung sent away a hard shot on goal in the 30th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. After some fancy dribbling in the 35th minute, Lê Chung managed to get in a good position for a shot. Lao Cai's supporters rose to their feet, but Lê Chung was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. La Loc breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. With a couple of smart ball manuevers Lê Chung in the 41st managed to get into a good position. With a left leg La Loc saved Binh Phuoc from getting behind. Lê Phuong showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Nguyễn Xuan, who was totally free with the ball in the 44th minute. After 45 played minutes Lao Cai got a freekick which was hit by Hoàng Thuyet. Lê Phuong showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Nguyễn Xuan in the 46th minute of the match. Mai Thanh Bình sent away a hard shot on goal in the 48th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. After the first half Binh Phuoc were leading 1-2. They had played with great self confidence throughout the first half and fully deserved their lead.

The players of the home team were most fresh-looking when they entered the field to play the second half. Nguyễn Xuan was the one to do the kick off. 52 minutes into the match, Huỳnh Tấn Dũng had an open shot that he just couldn't miss and scored to the right of La Loc. Binh Phuoc's manager could be seen yelling to the referee that Huỳnh Tấn Dũng was offside, but the referee ignored the protest. 2-2. Lê Phuong took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Nguyễn Xuan, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. If Nguyễn Anh Hung had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 60th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. 65 minutes into the game, Lao Cai's Lê Chung nearly tore a hole in the net with a booming shot. La Loc made a valiant effort, but he could not reach the ball in time, 3-2. After a rather tough play, Lao Cai's Hoàng Thuyet got a free kick in the 68th minute. Nguyễn Xuan struck a weak shot in the 69th minute. Lê Phuong didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for Binh Phuoc. After some fancy dribbling in the 71st minute, Mai Thanh Bình managed to get in a good position for a shot. Binh Phuoc's supporters rose to their feet, but Mai Thanh Bình was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Lê Phuong breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. In the 77th match minute, Binh Phuoc was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Trần Tran to maneuver through the defense. An unexpectedly hard shot by Vũ Minh-ha in the 78th minute of play forced Binh Phuoc's goalkeeper La Loc to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. The supporters of Binh Phuoc booed when Lao Cai was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 85 match minutes in a wonderful position. Hoàng Thuyet didn't get a good kick on the ball. After a defensive mix-up in Lao Cai's zone, Nguyễn Xuan stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Lê Phuong came out of the goal and Nguyễn Xuan tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. Lê Chung sent away a hard shot on goal in the 95th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. There were very few away supporters still in the ground by the end of the match. Most of them had left early, disgusted by the way their team had been torn apart. Lao Cai fully deserved thier win.