League

Vinh Long
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. Võ Thien started the match with the kick off. When Võ Thien came up free with the goalie in the 8th minute, the Vinh Long 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 Võ Thien couldn't finish the play. In the 9th match minute, Bắc Ninh was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Nguyễn Dung to maneuver through the defense. The audience thought a goal was coming when Trần Thanh Bình got free with Nguyễn Loc in the 15th minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. Trần Thanh Bình sent away a hard shot on goal in the 17th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Phạm Teo took a chance and fired a shot far from the goal in the 21st minute, but it turned out to be a dangerous situation for Nguyễn Loc. Bắc Ninh's goalkeeper really had to stretch himself to stop the ball from crossing the goal line. In the 26th minute the ball was on its way in behind Bắc Ninh's goalkeeper Nguyễn Loc, but with the help of a sacrificing defense, he could catch the ball at the crossbar. Nguyễn Loc made an important save on a dangerous shot by Trần Thanh Bình in the 29th minute. In the 32nd minute Nghiêm Cadeo shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Phạm Hong saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. In the 34th minute Hồ Lien shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Phạm Hong saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. In the 35th minute, Trần Dong hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. Võ Thien might have been able to make a better finish in the 37th minute when he tried to place a hard shot over Nguyễn Loc. Instead the ball went over the crossbar and out. Võ Thien ran back to his position shaking his head. The audience thought a goal was coming when Trần Thanh Bình got free with Nguyễn Loc in the 40th minute, but the goalkeeper managed to catch the ball with a huge effort. After having played for 41 minutes, Võ Thien managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. Vinh Long's supporters crossed their fingers, but Võ Thien was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. 44 minutes into the match, Bắc Ninh's goalkeeper Nguyễn Loc had to clear away a ball on his right side after a cunning shot by Trần Thanh Bình. Luck had favoured the away team in the first, and they walked off with a 0-1 lead.

If Võ Thien had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 53rd minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. 56 minutes into the match, Bắc Ninh's goal looked a bit too open when Võ Thien came free, but Nguyễn Loc reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. After some fancy dribbling in the 57th minute, Hồ Lien managed to get in a good position for a shot. Bắc Ninh's supporters rose to their feet, but Hồ Lien was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Phạm Hong breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. Nguyễn Loc made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Võ Thien in the 61st minute of play. An unexpectedly hard shot by Nghiêm Cadeo in the 68th minute of play forced Vinh Long's goalkeeper Phạm Hong to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. Bắc Ninh's Hồ Lien got a good chance for a goal in the 70th minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. If Nghiêm Cadeo had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 71st minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. In the 72nd minute, Nguyễn Dung hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. Phạm Hong made a fantastic save in the 75th minute, when Hồ Lien sent off a good shot on target. 78 minutes into the match, Vinh Long's Trần Thanh Bình sent off a blazing shot straight on target, a shot that Nguyễn Loc narrowly saved just below the crossbar. Hồ Lien could have scored with his fast shot on goal in the 83rd minute of the match, but Phạm Hong made a huge save. When Trần Dong fell near the penalty area in the 86th minute he thought he would be awarded a free kick. The referee ignored Vinh Long's protests and gave Trần Dong a yellow card for diving instead. In the 86th minute, Trần Dong hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. In the 89th minute Bắc Ninh were awarded a corner. Trịnh Lien went to the cornerflag to take it. Trịnh Lien made a great header on Bắc Ninh's corner, it was just that Vinh Long's Phạm Hong managed to reach the ball for a save. Phạm Hong made a fantastic save in the 91st minute, when Hồ Lien sent off a good shot on target. With a little luck, Vinh Long's Phạm Hong got control of the ball when Hồ Lien tried to sneak it across the goal line. When the final whistle was heard the away supporters stood up and showed their joy. Bắc Ninh had managed to secure a win in what was a close match throughout.