Pressure on coach as The Cong fail

 Lee Nguyen scored twice to satisfy Hoang Anh Gia Lai’s thirst for a win over The Cong at Ha Noi’s Hang Day stadium yesterday.

With the win at Hang Day Stadium yesterday, HAGL jumped from 12th place to ninth with 13 points. (Photo: VNN)

Nguyen, an American-Vietnamese player, produced a brilliant performance after months in the doldrums at the club.

Both teams teams needed a win to not only improve rankings but also for the coaches to see a bit more job security. These stakes gave the game a rapid start, with attacks from both sides, though it wasn’t until the 59th minute that an opening goal was scored for the visitors.

Nguyen stole the ball from defender Nguyen Van Hien and immediately made a straight shot to the net.

But Hoang Anh Gia Lai (HAGL) players didn’t enjoy their glee for long.

Former national member Thach Bao Khanh gave a long pass to Rafael Oliveira in the left wing and the foreign player broke through to the box and finished to the far corner of the goal.

Nguyen, who previously played for Danish club Rander FC, proved his qualities and skills when he made The Cong work hard and foul him in the penalty area, causing a shoot-out for HAGL.

He himself took the responsibility to shoot and raised the score 2-1 at the 82nd minute.

With the win, HAGL jumped from 12th place to ninth with 13 points, while The Cong fell freely to 13th from eighth last week.

Coach Vuong Tien Dung of The Cong will have more pressure from the management board, as this was the third straight loss for the team. Media said that he could be the sixth coach of the V-League to be sacked this season.

At Thien Truong stadium, SHB Da Nang, the top V-League team, were tied 1-1 with host Nam Dinh, even though they had scored just four minutes after the start of the game.

Merlo Gaston tapped the ball from close range and the keeper failed to blow it out.

Best Foreign V-League Player 2008 Amaobi Uzuono levelled the score during the 74th minute with a 25m shot.

Defending champion Becamex Binh Duong yesterday were challenged a lot on their way to defend their title. They were tied 2-2 on home ground, at Go Dau stadium, by rich club T&T Ha Noi.

Top striker Le Cong Vinh kicked his team to the top with a goal scored after a mistake by the host’s defence in the ninth minute. The second goal came in the second half by Nguyen Van Quan at the 72nd minute.

Victory looked certain for T&T to Ha Noi, but with only 10 minutes left, host Binh Duong scored twice to even the score, and luckily kept one point at home. 

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