Nhan Dan Online - Honest Amaobi, who was top scorer at the 2004 V-League, scored a brace alongside with a goal by a goal by Alves Kesley to help Binh Duong beat Phu My Nam Dinh 3-1 at home to go top of the table of the national football championship/V-League.

Kesley, top scorer of the 2005 V-League, opened the scoring for the hosts, who were missing four key players due to suspension and injuries, after just eight minutes.

In nine minutes, from 28th to 37th minutes, Amaobi beat goalkeeper Bui Quang Huy twice.

Trong Loc pulled back a goal for the visitors two minutes into the second half. However, the visitors failed to capitalise the momentum as they were reduced to ten men after fullback Phung Van Nhien was sent off on 65 minutes.

The victory put Binh Duong on top of the table with three points clear of Da Nang who will visit Pleiku one day later.

With Da Nang being expected to have a tough job in Pleiku, where they have earned a point from four visits, Binh Duong have a good chance to maintain their top spot.

Manager Le Thuy Hai lined up four attacking players, Nguyen Anh Duc, Philani, Amaobi and Kesley for Binh Duong’s clash with Phu My Nam Dinh. Anh Duc had to sacrifice his position as one of two frontmen to Kesley. He played on the left flank.

It took the hosts only eight minutes to open the scoring. Intercepting the ball from Philani, Kesley produced a sensational touch, beating a Phu My Nam Dinh defender with a lobbed ball before struck home from narrow angle.

Going 1-0 down, Phu My Nam Dinh had to move forward. However, they were then demoralised when their former striker Amaobi made it 2-0 on 28 minutes.

Released by Cong Minh with a long ball, Amaobi, rounded the visitors’ defender before beating goalie Quang Huy with a powerful strike.

Nine minutes later, it was Amaobi to score his second goals against his former club with Hoang Nam provider. Amaobi slotted the ball from close range after Hoang Nam’s good cross.

After the break, Phu My Nam Binh plunged forward to seek goals. They pulled back a goal by Trong Loc, two minutes into the second half.

Substitute Hoang Ngoc Linh, who replaced Nguyen Van Bien, found Harrison Eric Muranda in the box, who back past for Trong Loc to strike home from distance.  

The goal was a real momentum for the visitors, who exerted efforts to narrow further the score.

However, they failed to capitalised the momentum as their fullback Van Nhien was booked for the second time in the match and sent off. Binh Duong’s Kesley was booked and will miss Binh Duong’s next match.

A victory was enough for manger Thuy Hai’s team to climb to top spot in the table.

After the match, manager Thuy Hai was quoted as saying that he team had home advantage to win the match while Phu My Nam Dinh had to travel a lot south.

Manager Nguyen Ngoc Hao was described to fail to hide his disappointment after defeat, saying that his players started the game well but after they conceded an early goal, they collapsed. Also, Van Nhien’s send-off added difficulties to the team.

Phu My Nam Dinh have not won in Go Dau since their 2-1 victory in the 2004 V-League. They have dropped to fourth place in the table and were replaced by Dong Tam Long An on third place, after the defending champions’ 2-1 victory in Hanoi on May 4.

Ngoc Tuan

Binh Duong: Nguyen The Anh, Nguyen Hoang Vuong, Pham Dinh Phuoc, Truong Van Hai, Huynh Quang Thanh, Phung Cong Minh (Nguyen Huu Thang 86’), Philani, Nguyen Hoang Nam (Nguyen Van Linh 70’), Nguyen Anh Duc, Honest Amaobi  (Diego 78’), and Alves  Kesley;

Phu My Nam Dinh: Bui Quang Huy, Nguyen Van Bien (Hoang Ngoc Linh 46’),  Tran Thanh Tung, Khuong Quoc Tuan, Phung Van Nhien, Tran Duc Duong, Tran Trong Loc (Phan The Hieu 70’), Emmanuel Ejike, Pham  Xuan Phu (Le Van Duyet 84’), Harrison Eric Muranda, and Ajoku Obinna Darlinton.

V-League, May 5