T&T goes top with surprise win over defending champs

HCM CITY — Second placed Ha Noi T&T yesterday pulled off a surprise solitary goal win over V-League leaders and defending champions SHB Da Nang to lead the table with 12 points.

Cao Sy Cuong's goal helped continue Ha Noi T&T's successful run on home turf, while SHB Da Nang tasted their first defeat of the season after three successive wins.

Da Nang can still claim top spot from Ha Noi T&T because the team still has a match in hand.

In spite of having to play the AFC match against Singapore Geylang United FC five days later, Le Huynh Duc fielded his strongest line-up including in-form striker Gaston Merlo.

However goalkeeper Tran Duc Cuong was given the custodian's duty instead of Vo Van Hanh.

Several players failed to fire for Da Nang, however, while Merlo was marked closely and given little space to maneuver by Ha Noi T&T players. He was also not well supplied by midfielders Nguyen Rogerio and Nicolas Hernandes.

With the home turf advantage and not having to play in any other competition, the Ha Noi team played more aggressively with Le Cong Vinh and Elokan Endene active in the front and its defenders solid at the back.

Ha Noi T&T came very close to scoring in the 36 minute but Van Quan's volley, which beat the goalie, hit the crossbar.

In the last minute of the first half, SHB Da Nang almost broke the deadlock when Merlo's header also hit the crossbar and Nicolas's follow-up close-range shot was blocked by Nguyen Hong Son.

Entering the second half, Ha Noi T&T controlled the match better and was rewarded in the 61st minute when midfielder Cao Sy Cuong's shot from an angle deflected off the foot of Chau Le Phuoc Vinh and sailed over Da Nang custodian Cuong.

Although Duc rang in several changes in order to get a positive result ahead of the AFC match next week, Ha Noi T&T proved to be a better side on the day, creating more chances that Vinh and his teammates could not convert. — VNS