V-League 2010 Round 3:

Da Nang v Khanh Hoa: 2-0
SLNA v Hai Phong: 2-4
Hoa Phat Ha Noi v Thanh Hoa: 3-2
Dong Thap v Ninh Binh: 5-2
Nam Dinh v Navibank Sai Gon : 1-2
GDT Long An v T&T Ha Noi: 2-0
HAGL v Binh Duong: 2-0

A lot of exciting matches with many goals scored in this round. HAGL earned its first victory after defeating league leader Binh Duong while Hai Phong won the hot battle in Vinh stadium. Luong Van Duoc Em scored a hattrick in Cao Lanh stadium as Dong Thap trounced Ninh Binh. The game between newly promoted Hoa Phat and newly founded Lam Son Thanh Hoa was also very worth watching.

Binh Duong's Molina found dead in hotel

Binh Duong's Argentine midfielder Gaston Eduardo Molina, who was a member of SHB Da Nang winning V-league 2009 title, was found dead in a hotel in Ho Chi Minh City yesterday. The cause was initially believed to be drug overdose.

Molina was an important player of SHB Da Nang when the club won the 2009 title. However, Molina joined Binh Duong in September 2009 after he had been released by his old club due to lack of discipline. As a Binh Duong's player, he made big contribution to help his club reach the semi-final of AFC Cup 2009.

AFC Cup 2010: Binh Duong draw, Da Nang win

Selangor (Malaysia) v Binh Duong: 0-0
Match Report

Binh Duong were more than pleased with the outcome as lady luck and brilliant GK The Anh saved them from losing last night. The whole squad did not seem to be at their best fitness. Traveling from Khanh Hoa to Sai Gon by coach just 3 days ago, flying to Malaysia and keep traveling to Selangor by coach again, Binh Duong didn't not have best preparation. Some Vietnamese newspaper criticized their poor performance but I think a draw was fair as Selangor played pretty well in the second half.

I could not watch this match but managed to find a Malaysian live radio report. Of course I did not understand anything the commentator said except some players' names. Especially when the match was coming to the end, I could not remember how many times he shouted "Safee Sali!!!!" and the noise from the crowds made me think Selangor had scored at least some goals. A goalless draw is not a bad result for Binh Duong at all.

Other result from group H: Victory (Maldives) v Sriwijaya (Indonesia): 0-0
A bit surprise that Sriwijaya was held to a draw.

Thai Port v SHB Da Nang: 2-3

It seemed an interesting game. Da Nang's Argentine duo Gaston Merlo and Niko contributed 2 goals while Vietnam international Phan Thanh Hung scored the third one. It was a very good result for Da Nang. It will certainly help them ease the criticism from media.

Clip: Thai Port 2-3 Da Nang

Other result from group H: Geylang (Singapore) v Taipo (Hong Kong): 1-1

Duc Chung’s sights set on Selangor

Duc Chung’s sights set on Selangor

PETALING JAYA – Binh Duong may have enjoyed an impressive run to the semi-finals of last season's AFC Cup but the Vietnamese side are looking no further than Tuesday's opening Group F clash with Selangor when they begin their 2010 campaign.

The current V-League leaders will take on Malaysian Super League (MSL) table toppers at the Shah Alam Stadium keen to get off to the best possible start.

However, Binh Duong head coach Mai Duc Chung (pictured) warned that even without foreign players bolstering their ranks, Selangor will still prove a handful for his men.

“Selangor have current Malaysian internationals and also several under-23 players, who won the SEA Games last year when they beat Vietnam in the final,” he said.

“Selangor have also won the Malaysia Cup 32 times, so we have to give them the respect they are due even though they will be playing without foreigners.

“For us, the target is to play well in every game that we are in. As professionals, we have a duty to play well in all competitions rather than targeting to win just one championship.”

Other than their three imports – Brazilian Elenildo De Jesus, Philani Kubheka from South Africa and Nigerian Egbo Osita - Binh Duong can call on naturalised striker Huynh Kesley Alves to lead the line.

The team will also be bolstered by the presence of Vietnam defender and skipper Huynh Quang Thanh as well as midfielder Nguyen Vu Phuong.

Meanwhile, Selangor head coach K. Devan believes a disciplined performance will see his side come out on top.

“I think that what will make the difference in the match will be the foreigners, so we will have to adapt the right strategy to shackle them,” he said.

“If we can keep to our tactical discipline, then I think that we can walk away with the right result.”

Binh Duong thrashed MSL side Kedah in the last 16 last year but Devan feels that result will have no bearing on the encounter.

“I don’t think that it is right to compare results. You are only as good as your last game, so we have to treat each match differently,” he said.

Skipper Amri Yahya was also quietly confident, adding: “It is important that we play as a team and if we can do that, we should be able to take this one. There are no injuries in the team at the moment, so that is at least a positive factor.”

Vietnamese clubs map

I was very lucky to find these two maps on photobucket. A special applause to nesta1376 for making them.

V-League 2010 Clubs:



First Division Clubs:

National Cup Round 1/8

Khanh Hoa v Binh Duong: 0-1
Da Nang v Can Tho: 2-0
SLNA v Viettel: 3-0
Hoa Phat v Hai Phong: 0-0 (5-4 P.K.)
Nam Dinh v ACB Ha Noi: 1-0
Dong Nai v Dong Thap: 0-2
GDT Long An v HAGL: 1-1 (4-5 P.K.)
Ninh Binh v Thanh Hoa: 3-0

Lee Nguyen's contract 'officially' terminated

According to Thanh Nien Online, one of most famous players in V-League was released.

Right before the National Cup game between Hoang Anh Gia Lai (HAGL) and GDT Long An, HAGL board has come to a decision to terminate the contract of American-Vietnamese star Lee Nguyen. The reason is believed to be the contradiction between Lee Nguyen and HAGL's new head coach Kiatisuk Senamuang.

HAGL's representative stated that Lee Nguyen's attitude in training and HAGL's recent games had been unacceptable. In the last match versus Hoa Phat Ha Noi, Lee Nguyen was excluded from the starting eleven and later he refused to come in as substitute. Bad relationship between Lee and Kiatisuk added more problems to struggling HAGL that currently stays at the bottom of V-league 2010 standings. As a result, HAGL leaders have decided to end Lee's contract to retain discipline.

Lee Nguyen's father said his son would come back to the US and stay there for a while before looking for a new club. He did not leave out the chance Lee Nguyen would join another Vietnamese club in future.

Lee Nguyen's milestones with HAGL:

2009 Jan 17: Lee Nguyen signed a 3-year contract with HAGL, earning an annual salary of US$ 120,000.

2009 Mar 8: Lee scored the first league goal for HAGL. However, he was sent off later.

2009 May: Lee achieved the award Player of Month as he helped HAGL win 4 consecutive games.

2010 Feb: Lee's contract was terminated. In total, he has contributed 12 goals for HAGL. The game between HAGL and Khanh Hoa was the only V-league 2010 match he played for leaving.

SHB Da Nang new signing: Nicolas Hernandez

Nickname: Niko
Born: May 4, 1979 in Buenos Aires, Argentina
Height: 178 cm
Postition: Striker

Niko signed for SHB Da Nang from Costa Rican club Deportiva Alajuelense in January 2010. He has just made his debut in the match against Hai Phong in the first round of V-League 2010.

Niko began his career with Argentine club Ferro Carril Oeste in 1999 and enjoyed his best time with Huracan in 2003 and MLS side Colorado Rapids in 2006.

Clip: Niko scored for Colorado Rapids.

Stats:

1999-2000 :
Ferro Carril Oeste ( First Division – Argentina ) : 3 goals/17 games
2000-2001
COLON SANTA FE ( First Division – Argentina ) : 0 goal/ 10 games
2002 : CREMONESE ( Serie B - Italia )
2002 2003 :
San Martin de Mendoza ( Second Division - Argentina ) : 4 goals/ 21 games
2003-2005 :
Atletico HURACAN ( Second Division - Argentina ) – 18 goals/ 60 games
2005: COBREOLA ( Chile ) : 3 goals/15 games
2006-2008 : COLORADO RAPIDS ( MLS ) : 11 goals/ 54 games
2008 COLUMBIA CREW ( MLS ) : 0 goal/ 5 games
2009 Deportiva Alajuelense (Primier Costa Rica – finished 11th in 2009 ): 1 goal/ 13 games.

(Vy Thanh - danangfc.vn)

Da Nang and Binh Duong squad for AFC Cup 2010

Becamex Binh Duong squad:

S.No	Player Name	Jersey No	Position
1	NGUYEN THE ANH	1	GK
2	DANG DINH DUC	13	GK
3	TRAN MINH QUANG	16	GK
4	NGUYEN HOANG VUONG	2	DF
5	TRAN THANH TUNG	3	DF
6	TRAN CHI CONG	4	DF
7	LUONG MINH TRUNG	12	DF
8	EGBO OSITA	15	DF
9	TRUONG VAN HAI	17	DF
10	HUYNH QUANG THANH	20	DF
11	CHAU PHONG HOA	24	DF
12	NGUYEN VU AN	25	DF
13	NGUYEN MINH CHUYEN	5	MF
14	NGUYEN VU PHONG	6	MF
15	TRAN TRUONG GIANG	8	MF
16	ELENILDO DE JESUS	9	MF
17	NGUYEN HUU THANG	14	MF
18	NGUYEN VAN LINH	21	MF
19	PHUNG CONG MINH	22	MF
20	KESLEY HUYNH ALVES	7	FW
21	KUBHEKA PHILANI BHEKIZIZWE LANCELOT	10	FW
22	NGUYEN ANH DUC	11	FW
23	NGUYEN DUC THIEN	26	FW

SHB Da Nang squad:

S.No	Player Name	Jersey No	Position
1	VO VAN HANH	1	GK
2	NGUYEN THANH BINH	13	GK
3	TRAN DUC CUONG	25	GK
4	CAO CUONG	2	DF
5	NGUYEN QUOC THANH	3	DF
6	TRAN VAN HOC	4	DF
7	VO HOANG QUANG	5	DF
8	CHAU LE PHUOC VINH	6	DF
9	LE QUANG CUONG	12	DF
10	TRAN HAI LAM	15	DF
11	PHAN DUY LAM	21	DF
12	NGUYEN HUU HUNG	28	DF
13	LE VAN HOANG	29	DF
14	PHAN THANH PHUC	7	MF
15	VO NGOC QUOC	9	MF
16	NGUYEN VAN MEO	11	MF
17	PHAM NGUYEN SA	14	MF
18	ROGERIO MACHADO PEREIRA	16	MF
19	NGUYEN DINH ANH PHUC	17	MF
20	TRUONG QUANG TUAN	18	MF
21	PHAN THANH HUNG	19	MF
22	HUYNH QUOC ANH	23	MF
23	NGUYEN THANH TRUNG	24	MF
24	NICOLAS HERNANDEZ	8	FW
25	HA MINH TUAN	10	FW
26	LE THANH XUAN	26	FW
27	MERLO SEBASTIAN GASTON	27	FW

Squad list of other teams can be found HERE.

AFC Cup 2010: Vacant slots draw result

Group F:
Binh Duong (Vietnam)
Sriwijaya (Indonesia)
Selangor (Malaysia)
Victory SC (Maldives)

Group G:
Muangthong United (Thailand)
South China (Hong Kong)
VB (Maldives)
Persiwa (Indonesia)

Group H:
Thai Port (Thailand)
SHB Da Nang (Vietnam)
Tai Po (Hong Kong)
Geylang (Singapore)

V-League 2010 Round 2: Big win for Hanoi T&T

Ha Noi T&T vs Khanh Hoa: 5-1
HAGL vs Hoa Phat Ha Noi: 1-2
Binh Duong vs Nam Dinh: 2-1
GDT Long An vs SLNA: 1-1
Navibank Sai Gon vs Ninh Binh: 1-2
Dong Thap vs Da Nang: postponed

The highlight of this round is impressive victory of Ha Noi T&T over Khanh Hoa. Former Persema midfielder Benicio Caue contributed 2 beautiful goals and one assist to help Ha Noi T&T earn the second win of this season.

BONUS: A clip about Benicio's outstanding performance in V-League 2009 game between Ha Noi T&T and Ho Chi Minh City FC.