The red card changed the course of the game.
Viettel Sports FC had a very good start to the match, dominating Ninh Binh. The military team played solidly and attacked sharply, creating an advantage. Khuất Văn Khang's goal in the 30th minute further solidified the advantage of the team currently ranked second in the league. However, in a seemingly harmless situation, Hoàng Minh made a rough tackle on Thanh Thịnh (Ninh Binh), resulting in a red card and his dismissal from the field in the 45th minute. The numerical advantage allowed Ninh Binh to fight back in the second half, equalizing through Dụng Quang Nho. Unfortunately for Ninh Binh, they lacked the strength to score another goal, settling for a 1-1 draw.
Nevertheless, this result brings good news to Hanoi FC, who are currently ranked 3rd with 39 points. After round 21, Hanoi FC are only 4 points behind The Cong Viettel, so they can certainly catch up with their rivals, as the team led by coach Harry Kewell is in very good form. Meanwhile, Ninh Binh FC, with 38 points, are temporarily in 4th place.
The Cong Viettel (9) drew with Ninh Binh Club
Photo: Minh Tú
HAGL is close to avoiding relegation.
HAGL FC came very close to securing their survival in the league after a 1-0 victory against SLNA at Vinh Stadium. This was a resilient performance from coach Le Quang Trai's team, as they held firm against the pressure from the home side. SLNA played quite well, controlling possession for 70%. At times, the home team frequently circulated the ball in HAGL's half, but they couldn't accomplish their most important task: scoring. Goalkeeper Tran Trung Kien and the HAGL defense played very alertly, neutralizing numerous SLNA attacks. By adopting a defensive approach and waiting for counter-attacking opportunities, HAGL achieved their goal. In the 58th minute, from a quick counter-attack, foreign player Batista executed a beautiful ball control before unleashing a powerful shot from outside the 16-meter box, giving the team from Pleiku a 1-0 victory. Towards the end of the match, SLNA suffered a further setback when goalkeeper Cao Van Binh received a red card and was sent off.
With this win, HAGL has 22 points, temporarily ranking 10th, 9 points ahead of bottom-placed Da Nang. Given Da Nang's lack of a strong squad, winning 3 out of their remaining 5 matches will be very difficult for them. Therefore, HAGL is almost certain to avoid relegation. Securing their place in the league early will give HAGL's young players a more relaxed mindset, allowing them to perform better in the remaining matches. This will also serve as a foundation for their development and promises to lead to a better season next year.
After round 21, Ha Tinh FC unexpectedly terminated the contract with head coach Nguyen Cong Manh even though only 5 rounds remained in the league. The club's management is expected to announce the new coach soon.
Source: https://thanhnien.vn/clb-the-cong-viettel-bi-kim-chan-185260503213635907.htm
