V-League relegation race is more dramatic than a movie: Da Nang plays play-off with Binh Phuoc, Quang Nam escapes

Da Nang FC came from behind to defeat SLNA 2-1 but still finished 13th overall, thus having to play a play-off, while Quang Nam successfully stayed in the league thanks to a 3-3 draw against HAGL.

Da Nang Club's 'aim' is off

Da Nang FC entered the final match of the V-League at Tam Ky Stadium at 5:00 p.m. today (June 22) with full advantage in hand. With 1 point more than the bottom team Binh Dinh, coach Le Duc Tuan's team only needs to win to be sure of at least getting a ticket to the play-off. Even if Da Nang FC wins, and Quang Nam is empty-handed at HAGL's Pleiku Stadium, the Han River team will stay in the league.

Da Nang Club (orange shirt) overwhelmed SLNA - PHOTO: DONG NGHI

Meeting SLNA is a golden opportunity for Da Nang Club to think about 3 points, because the Nghe An team has no more goals due to relegation from the previous round.

With overwhelming momentum, Da Nang Club quickly overwhelmed SLNA. In the 3rd minute, Quang Hung crossed the ball from the right wing, just in time for Van Long to head the ball into the near corner. Young goalkeeper Van Binh read the situation well and dived to block.

Four minutes later, Van Binh became the hero of SLNA again. Da Nang FC was awarded a penalty thanks to Khac Luong handling the ball in the penalty area. However, at the 11m mark, former national team player Dinh Duy could not defeat goalkeeper Van Binh, with his shot being intercepted.

SLNA was under pressure, and it wasn't until the 29th minute that coach Phan Nhu Thuat and his team had a chance to counterattack. Receiving a long pass from Quang Tu, striker Olaha broke through and kicked the ball just over the bar. This was also SLNA's only dangerous chance in the first half, "sunk" amid the relentless attacks of Da Nang Club.

Dinh Duy missed a penalty kick - PHOTO: DONG NGHI

However, the home team Da Nang wasted their shots and left the field with a score of 0-0 after the first 45 minutes.

Determined to stay in the league

At halftime, Da Nang players received the results of the remaining matches. Binh Dinh lost 0-4 to Ha Noi , while Quang Nam let HAGL lead 2-1. This means that if these scores remain the same and Da Nang wins against SLNA, the Han River team will stay in the league.

In the second half, it seemed that only Da Nang Club had the desire to play football. Coach Le Duc Tuan's students continued to pressure SLNA, but luck did not smile on them.

In the 49th minute, Van Hung headed the ball and it hit the goal post of the visiting team SLNA. In the 52nd minute, Cong Nhat accelerated to get past the SLNA defender and then skillfully chipped the ball, however, the ball hit the post. In the 58th minute, Da Nang Club was very close to scoring again, but the home team's shot hit the fingertip of goalkeeper Van Binh and hit the crossbar.

Squandering the opportunity, Da Nang Club paid the price in the 65th minute. Xuan Dai escaped down the left wing in the face of the superficial pursuit of Da Nang's defense, then crossed for foreign player Kuku to tap the ball into the net of goalkeeper Tien Dung, putting SLNA ahead.

Da Nang Club was both unsharp and unlucky, as the ball hit SLNA's goalpost and crossbar 4 times in just 28 minutes (from 49 to 77).

However, when the home team was still unlucky, SLNA defenders accidentally... did the job of Da Nang strikers. In the 80th minute, Van Long took a free kick on the left wing. In an attempt to block, the away team defender headed the ball into his own net, bringing the match back to the starting line.

In the 84th minute, Minh Quang escaped to a narrow angle and then decisively shot with his left foot, raising the score to 2-1 for Da Nang Club. At the same time, Quang Nam let HAGL take the lead 3-2. This means that if the score remains the same, Da Nang will stay in the league, while Quang Nam will go to the play-off.

With their last-ditch efforts, Da Nang FC preserved their achievements. Coach Le Duc Tuan and his team won 2-1 against SLNA, thus gaining 25 points overall. At this time, Da Nang had the same number of points as Quang Nam, and ranked above their opponents due to a better head-to-head goal difference.

However, Quang Nam equalized 3-3 against HAGL in the 90+4 minute thanks to Atshimene's penalty, thereby having 26 points and staying in the V-League in 12th place. The relegation race ended "crazily", when the situation was only decided in the last seconds.

Da Nang FC ranked 13th and had to play a play-off with Binh Phuoc. Binh Dinh FC ranked 14th and had to be relegated to the first division next season.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/dua-tru-hang-v-league-kich-tinh-hon-phim-da-nang-da-play-off-voi-binh-phuoc-quang-nam-thoat-hiem-185250622104327736.htm