* Kienlongbank KG became the second team to be promoted to the V-League next year after defeating TDC Binh Duong 3-1 in the final round in the Mekong Delta province of Kien Giang on Saturday, while Nam Dinh were relegated to the Second Division despite a 3-0 victory over relegated Huda Hue.
Kienlongbank KG clinch promotion to V-League
By Vu Duc - The Saigon Times Daily
Song Lam Nghe An players celebrate after receiving the V-League trophy in the central city of Vinh on Sunday - Photo: TTXVN HCMC – Song Lam Nghe An brought home their first V-League title in a decade after a tense 1-1 draw with defending champions Hanoi T&T in a dramatic final day of the season as Dong Tam Long An Tiles joined Hanoi ACB in the First Division.
There were around 20,000 fans packed into Vinh Stadium for the winner takes all clash with the home side also having the advantage of knowing a point was enough as they were three points ahead of their rivals who had a better goal difference.
And the clashes between Haiphong and Hanoi ACB, Khatoco Khanh Hoa versus Hoa Phat Hanoi and Thanh Hoa against Dong Tam Long An Tiles would settle the relegation issue.
Song Lam had all the early pressure and Fagan Diego opened for the home side just four minutes into the game. Visitors Hanoi T&T tried to hit back but at the break the score remained 1-0.
Le Hong Minh kept the champions’ hopes alive when he leveled in the 63rd minute with an unstoppable shot after receiving a pass from Antonio Paivo Tavares outside the penalty area.
Tavares then was denied what would have been a sensational title-winning goal but his injury-time free kick hit the post and the draw was enough for coach Nguyen Huu Thang’s players to secure the V-League crown, 10 years after he won the title with Song Lam as a player.
With the draw, Song Lam secured 49 points from 15 wins, four draws and seven losses, three points clear of second-placed Hanoi T&T.
Meanwhile, Dong Tam Tiles, who were V-League champions in 2005 and 2006, were relegated to the First Division despite beating Thanh Hoa 2-1 in the central province of Thanh Hoa. Danny David and Abdi Kassim scored for Dong Tam Tiles in the 13th and 32nd minutes respectively while Sunday hit a consolation for Thanh Hoa in the 37th minute.
Dong Tam Tiles’ dreams of avoiding the drop on the last day were dashed as rivals Haiphong earned a valuable point in a 2-2 draw with Hanoi ACB, who were already down. Dong Tam Tiles and Haiphong both secured 30 points each but Dong Tam went down due to goal difference.
Hoa Phat Hanoi escaped from the drop zone with a 4-1 thrashing of Khatoco Khanh Hoa at Hang Day Stadium thanks to Timothy Anjembe’s hat-trick and Dinh Thanh Trung’s effort. Agostinho Petronil netted for Khanh Hoa in the 82nd minute.
In other results on Sunday, sixth-placed Becamex Binh Duong were defeated 2-0 by fifth-placed Dong Thap in the Mekong Delta city of Cao Lanh; ninth-placed Hoang Anh Gia Lai suffered a 3-2 loss to fourth-paced Ninh Binh and third-placed SHB Danang were held 2-2 by eighth-placed Navibank Saigon at Chi Lang Stadium.
Champions Song Lam picked up VND3 billion in cash and the league trophy, while runners-up Hanoi T&T pocketed VND1.5 billion and third-place SHB Danang received VND750 million. Danang’s Merlo Gaston was top scorer with 21 goals
* Kienlongbank KG became the second team to be promoted to the V-League next year after defeating TDC Binh Duong 3-1 in the final round in the Mekong Delta province of Kien Giang on Saturday, while Nam Dinh were relegated to the Second Division despite a 3-0 victory over relegated Huda Hue.
With the victory, Kienlongbank secured 47 points from 12 wins, 11 draws and three losses, seven points behind champions Saigon Xuan Thanh, who defeated Hanoi 4-3 at Hang Day Stadium.
Third-placed Binh Dinh, who beat sixth-placed Can Tho 1-0 in the central coast city of Qui Nhon, finish on 45 points, three points ahead of fourth-placed Quang Ninh Coal, who earned a 3-1 home win over An Giang.
Tay Ninh escaped relegation as they earned a 1-0 home victory over HCMC. Nam Dinh and Tay Ninh both secured 27 points each, but Nam Dinh have to play in the Second Division next season due to goal difference.
In the other game on Saturday, seventh-placed Dong Nai tied 1-1 with ninth-positioned Quang Nam in Dong Nai Province.
V-League final ranking Post Club Wins Draws Losses Points 1 Song Lam Nghe An 15 4 7 49 2 Hanoi T&T 13 7 6 46 3 SHB Danang 12 8 6 44 4 Ninh Binh 11 6 9 39 5 Dong Thap 10 7 9 37 6 Becamex Binh Duong 9 9 8 36 7 Thanh Hoa 9 7 10 34 8 Navibank Saigon 9 7 10 34 9 Hoang Anh Gia Lai 8 8 10 32 10 Hoa Phat Hanoi 9 5 12 32 11 Khatoco Khanh Hoa 9 5 12 32 12 Haiphong 7 9 10 30 13 Dong Tam Tiles 8 6 12 30 14 Hanoi ACB 8 2 16 26 First Division final ranking Post Club Wins Draws Losses Points 1 Saigon Xuan Thanh 15 9 2 54 2 Kienlongbank KG 12 11 3 47 3 Binh Dinh 13 6 7 45 4 Quang Ninh 11 9 6 42 5 An Giang 11 4 11 37 6 Can Tho 11 3 12 36 7 Dong Nai 9 9 8 36 8 Hanoi 8 9 9 33 9 Quang Nam 7 9 10 30 10 TDC Binh Duong 7 7 12 28 11 HCMC 6 10 10 28 12 Tay Ninh 7 6 13 27 13 Nam Dinh 5 12 9 27 14 Huda Hue 4 8 14 20