Binh Duong focus on job at hand

 

Foot off the gas: Becamex Binh Duong players celebrate after scoring a goal during a V-League football match. The former champions hope to return to winning ways after their 0-2 defeat last week to Hoang Anh Gia Lai. — VNA/VNS Photo

HCM CITY — V-League leaders Becamex Binh Duong will seek to resume their winning ways after last week's defeat at Pleiku Stadium but come up against a formidable obstacle in the shape of arch-rivals and two-time champions Dong Tam Long An (DTLA) in an away match tomorrow.

After a forgettable weekend last week – when Argentinian striker Eduardo Gaston Molina died of a drug overdose and the team lost 0-2 to Hoang Anh Gia Lai in a match that stood out more for crowd violence than the quality of play — Binh Duong are keen to turn around things.

For the match against DTLA, they will be without suspended midfielder Nguyen Huu Thang and defender Nguyen Hoang Vuong, but head coach Mai Duc Chung is not too worried.

"That Thang and Vuong cannot play is a disadvantage but not a big problem; we have replacements," he said during the club's training session at Binh Duong Stadium.

"The teams are equal and both have a chance to win."

But Binh Duong strikers Huynh Kesley, Philani, and Elenildo De Jesus — among the best in the V-League — are in poor form, with the team having scored just once in their last three matches.

DTLA have been boosted by an excellent performance against Ha Noi T&T last week. They won full points through goals by Antonio Carlos and Mirwanda Danny Davi while Congolese striker Shamala Kahanga missed a clutch of chances.

Another anticipated clash is between defending champions Da Nang and two-time champions Hoang Anh Gia Lai. Da Nang, with in-form striker Gaston Merlo, are the favourites.

HAGL, who began the season without Thai midfielder Dasakorn Thonglao and ended their contract with Lee Nguyen after just two V-League matches, have been weakened further by the suspension of their only in-form striker, Evaldo Goncaves, after his clash with Binh Duong's Thang.

Five other fourth round matches are also scheduled for Sunday. — VNS