League

Phuoc Tich
Spectators: 5000 (Terracing: 4000, Seating: 1000, VIP seats: 0) After having played for 5 minutes, Trần Huynh Duc managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. Ho Chi Minh City's supporters crossed their fingers, but Trần Huynh Duc was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. Huỳnh Phu sent away a hard shot on goal in the 8th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. In the 10th minute Hoàng Phuc shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Nguyễn Hoa saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. After 10 played minutes Ho Chi Minh City got a freekick which was hit by Nguyễn Phuc. When Lê Duc fell near the penalty area in the 12th minute he thought he would be awarded a free kick. The referee ignored Ho Chi Minh City's protests and gave Lê Duc a yellow card for diving instead. In the 12th match minute, Ho Chi Minh City was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Lê Duc to maneuver through the defense. Huỳnh Phu made a well adjusted shot against goal in the 21stth minute coming free in front of the goal, but Nguyễn Hoa would not let the ball come through at any expense and made a nice save by the left post. Nguyễn Phuong charged in rather forcefully in the 24th minute of the match, and managed to knock his opponent down. The referee showed Nguyễn Phuong the yellow card, and asked the players to shake hands before continuing play. In the 24th match minute, Ho Chi Minh City was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Nguyễn Phuong to maneuver through the defense. Nguyễn Pham showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Trần Huynh Duc, who was totally free with the ball in the 27th minute. If Huỳnh Phu had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 36th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. After a defensive mix-up in Ho Chi Minh City's zone, Hoàng Phuc stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Nguyễn Hoa came out of the goal and Hoàng Phuc tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. After the first half the score was level. The break gave the players a chance to catch their breath, whilst the managers went over the tactics with them again.

The wind increased when Hoàng Phuc made the kick off in the second half. After some fancy dribbling in the 53rd minute, Huỳnh Phu managed to get in a good position for a shot. Phuoc Tich's supporters rose to their feet, but Huỳnh Phu was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Nguyễn Hoa breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. Nguyễn Pham was out of position in the 56 minute of play, and Lê Duc capitalized on the mistake with a soft shot into the goal. Lê Duc really showed his touch with that goal: 0-1. Nguyễn Hoa made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Huỳnh Phu in the 58th minute of play. Lê Duc received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 62nd minute. Nguyễn Pham tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Lê Duc received a nice pass, split the defenders, and ran untouched towards the goal. Nguyễn Pham came out and tried to block the shot, but Lê Duc slotted it home off the left post making it 0-2 in the 67th minute. Trần Huynh Duc received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 72nd minute. Nguyễn Pham tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. 76 minutes into the match, Phuoc Tich's goalkeeper Nguyễn Pham had to clear away a ball on his right side after a cunning shot by Trần Huynh Duc. Nguyễn Pham made a fantastic save in the 77th minute, when Trần Huynh Duc sent off a good shot on target. Hoàng Ho hit a great freekick 84 minutes into the match. Lê Duc fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 85th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Nguyễn Pham having to interfere. Hoàng Phuc sent away a hard shot on goal in the 87th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. When Lê Duc came up free with the goalie in the 92nd minute, the Ho Chi Minh City 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 Lê Duc couldn't finish the play. Hoàng Phuc struck a weak shot in the 96th minute. Nguyễn Hoa didn't even have to move as the ball rolled over the line well wide of the goal. A wasted opportunity for Phuoc Tich. The Phuoc Tich fans had already started to leave before the final whistle blew. Ho Chi Minh City were clearly better and deserved to take the win.