Vietnam to host London 2012 playoffs

 The AFC Competitions Committee has confirmed Vietnam as the neutral venue for the playoff round of the AFC Asian Qualifiers for the 2012 London Games, which is scheduled to be played from March 25 to 31.

Malaysia had originally been chosen but renovations to the proposed stadium as well as the unavailability of other venues due to the scheduling of domestic fixtures meant that a new destination for the three-team playoffs was required.

The runners-up from the three third round groups will face each other in a round-robin format with an additional match earmarked for March 31 should two teams finish equal with the winner of the playoffs advancing to meet Senegal, who finished fourth in the 2011 CAF U-23 Championship, Africa's qualifying tournament for the 2012 Olympics.

The AFC-CAF Playoff is scheduled for April 12 at the City of Coventry Stadium in England.

List of foreign-based Vietnamese players

I'm creating a complete list of footballers of Vietnamese descent playing abroad. Big thanks to my friends who spent many hours searching for info of these players.

You can find the list by following the link: 
http://vietfootball.blogspot.com/p/vietnamese-players-abroad.html
Or simply click on the Vietnamese Players Abroad tab on the top bar.

Any addition or correction would be appreciated.

Everton scouting Le Cong Vinh

Steve Darby, who works as a scout for English Premier League side Everton in Asia, has been seen at Hang Day Stadium when Ha Noi FC defeated Khanh Hoa 4-1 last Saturday. He admitted Ha Noi FC striker Le Cong Vinh is the main target in his visit to Vietnam.

Darby also had a quick interview with Vietnamese journalists.
http://bongdaplus.vn/Super-League-2012/Phong-su-VIDEO-Everton-den-Hang-Day-san-Cong-Vinh/35831.bbd

Highlights: SLNA 2-2 Ha Noi T&T

Look at the tackle at 2:57. It was only yellow card. Such things happen quite often in Vietnamese matches. I always think Vietnamese refs are very bad. Otherwise, there should be red cards in every game.

Two-week break

Vietnamese football season will have a two-week break because of Lunar New Year holiday. The next fixture will come back on January 29th with the quarter-finals of Vietnam Cup.

Thrilling draw at Vinh

Sunday encounter between defending champions SLNA and last year's runners up Ha Noi T&T ended in a 2-2 draw with two last goals scored in additional time. SLNA's Trinidad & Tobago international Hughton Hector opened his scoring sheet with a curving shot at 23rd mins before Samson Kayode, who nearly signed for Atletico Madrid in 2011, equalised with a clinical finish. Ha Noi T&T also had a clear goal chalked off in the first half because the referee deemed it was offside. The second half continued to see a balanced game until Ha Noi T&T's Vo Duy Nam was sent-off after receiving his second yellow card. SLNA pressed up to find more goals and were rewarded with Gustave Bebbe's goal at the first minute of additional time. The Cameroonian connected the low cross with a close header to help the home side take the lead again. However, at last minute of additional time, Ha Noi had a corner-kick and young midfielder Nguyen Van Quyet scored a crucial header for visitors.

Today Results
SLNA 2-2 Ha Noi T&T
Hai Phong 1-1 Dong Thap
Navibank Saigon 1-2 Ninh Binh

SHB Da Nang trounce HAGL

SHB Da Nang enjoyed great domination when they hosted HAGL in the 3rd round of Super League this afternoon. When the first half came close to end, HAGL's keeper Tuan Manh made a big mistake to allow Doan Hung Son to score the opening goal. Right before the half-time whistle, Ngoc Thanh doubled the lead for Da Nang from Merlo's perfect assist. The second half saw another great effort by Argentine striker Sebastian Merlo when he dribbled past two HAGL defenders as well as Tuan Manh the goalie to score the 3rd goal. Tran Duc Duong pulled one back for HAGL but Dutch man Alexander Prent put an end to HAGL's hope with a perfect header.

Today Results:
SHB Da Nang 4-1 HAGL
Ha Noi FC 4-1 Khanh Hoa
Kien Giang 0-2 Sai Gon FC
Thanh Hoa 2-1 Binh Duong

Vietnam U21 to take part in Hassanal Bolkiah Trophy

According to the Brunei Times, Vietnam U21 will join U21 sides from 10 other Southeast Asian nations in a friendly tournament called Hassanal Bolkiah Trophy. The competition will start on February 25.

Becamex Binh Duong FC Video

Just found a nice video about Becamex Binh Duong on Youtube.

Ha Noi T&T go top

The second round of Super League saw V-League 2011 runners-up Ha Noi T&T go top after defeating Binh Duong 1-0 with the only goal scored by young attacker Nguyen Van Quyet from a left corner-kick.

Ha Noi T&T 1-0 Binh Duong
Khanh Hoa 4-0 Ninh Binh
Sai Gon FC 1-1 HAGL
Thanh Hoa 0-0 Da Nang
Kien Giang 3-2 Ha Noi FC
Dong Thap 0-1 SLNA
Hai Phong 1-1 Navibank Saigon

Super League starts with derby

In Ha Noi, Cristiano's header gave Ha Noi T&T 1-0 narrow win over Ha Noi FC in a well-balanced game. Meanwhile, Sai Gon derby ended in an exciting 2-2 draw. Ugandan striker Moses Oloya of Sai Gon FC scored the opening goal before Phan Van Tai Em equalised for Navibank. Just before half-time, Sai Gon XT took the lead again with Christian Nsi's goal but Dang Khanh Lam's goal in the second half made it level for both sides.

Other results:
HAGL 3-1 Hai Phong
Binh Duong 2-0 Kien Giang
SLNA 0-0 Thanh Hoa
SHB Da Nang 3-2 Khanh Hoa
Ninh Binh 2-2 Dong Thap

Highlights: Binh Duong 2-0 Kien Giang