League

Kon Tum
Spectators: 5000 (Terracing: 4000, Seating: 1000, VIP seats: 0) The field was rather wet after several days of rain when Nguyễn Tu took the kick off in the first half of the match. Đặng Liem took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Lê Phu, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. A collision led to Lang Son getting a freekick after 5 minutes play. Nguyễn Nam hit a great ball. 8 minutes into the match, Việt Nam's goal looked a bit too open when Nguyễn Thuyet came free, but Đặng Liem reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. 11 minutes into the game, Lang Son's Lê Phu nearly tore a hole in the net with a booming shot. Đặng Liem made a valiant effort, but he could not reach the ball in time, 0-1. The audience was convinced that Lê Phu's extremely hard shot when he got free in front of the goal was going in, but Đặng Liem was relentless in the 16th minute of the game. After a rather tough play, Việt Nam's Nghiêm Tu got a free kick in the 17th minute. Đặng Liem took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Nguyễn Thuyet, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. After a defensive mix-up in Lang Son's zone, Nguyễn Tong stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Phan Thai came out of the goal and Nguyễn Tong tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. Phan Thai made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Nguyễn Tu in the 25th minute of play. Nguyễn Tu fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 28th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Phan Thai having to interfere. 31 minutes into the match, Việt Nam's goal looked a bit too open when Lê Phu came free, but Đặng Liem reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Lê Dong kicked well hit freekick during the 33rd minute of the match. Lê Phu fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 38th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Đặng Liem having to interfere. After some fancy dribbling in the 41st minute, Nguyễn Tong managed to get in a good position for a shot. Việt Nam's supporters rose to their feet, but Nguyễn Tong was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Phan Thai breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. After having played for 44 minutes, Nguyễn Tong managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. Việt Nam's supporters crossed their fingers, but Nguyễn Tong was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. If Nguyễn Thuyet had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 47th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Luck had favoured the away team in the first, and they walked off with a 0-1 lead.

After 51 played minutes Việt Nam got a freekick which was hit by Nghiêm Tu. Đặng Liem stood for a superb save when he managed to get hold of Nguyễn Thuyet's shot from short distance in the 52nd minute. 55 minutes into the match, Việt Nam's goal looked a bit too open when Nguyễn Thuyet came free, but Đặng Liem reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Lang Son's Phan Thai played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Nguyễn Tu in the 57th minute of play. Việt Nam's Nguyễn Tong got a good chance for a goal in the 58th minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. In the 63rd minute Nguyễn Tu shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Phan Thai saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. After 71 played minutes Lang Son got a freekick which was hit by Nguyễn Nhật Minh. Phan Thai showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Nguyễn Tong, who was totally free with the ball in the 79th minute. If Lê Phu had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 83rd minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Nguyễn Thuyet might have been able to make a better finish in the 85th minute when he tried to place a hard shot over Đặng Liem. Instead the ball went over the crossbar and out. Nguyễn Thuyet ran back to his position shaking his head. Nguyễn Thuyet struck a weak shot in the 92nd minute. Đặng Liem didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for Lang Son. Nghiêm Tu hit a great freekick 93 minutes into the match. The Lang Son supporters could be heard counting down the last seconds of the match. They errupted in celebration when the whistle blew, knowing Lang Son would go home with victory in their luggage after a match that easily could have ended differently.