Nhan Dan Online – A brace by Alves Kesley helped Binh Duong go further clear on top of the national championship/V-League after a 2-0 victory over hosts Huda Hue.

A brace by Alves Kesley (blue) helped Binh Duong go clear on top. (Photo:VTC).

The victory helped Binh Duong extend their gap with Da Nang - who lost 2-0 at home to PISICO Binh Dinh - to eight points.

Elsewhere in Ho Chi Minh City, the match between Southern Steel Saigon Port and visiting Halida Thanh Hoa collapsed on 63 minutes due to security worries due to violence from Halida Thanh Hoa’s fans.

The match was suspended when hosts Southern Steel Saigon Port were leading 2-0 with goals by Cao Tung A Vy and Helio Da Silva Assis.

Manager Le Thuy Hai lined up Binh Duong’s in-form three foreign players, Amaobi Uzowuru, Philani and Alves Kesley in the attacking line, which helped Binh Duong dominate the game from kick off.

It took the league leaders three minutes to open the scoring. Philani's strong throw-in found Amaobi, whose headed pass set up Kesley to find the net from close range.

Failing to crack Binh Duong’s defence, Huda Hue tried their luck with long range shots. Ten minutes after going 1-0 down, Vo Tien Thanh powered a strike wide. On 33 minutes, Nguyen Duc Quy wasted a good chance to equalise for the hosts. Released by Nguyen Canh Lam, Duc Quy rounded centreback Vu Nhu Thanh but failed to beat goalie Nguyen The Anh.

The home side should have paid the price for goalkeeper Munze Ulrich's three minutes from half time. The goalkeeper’s goalkick was intercepted by Kesley, who beat centreback Marcelo Barbieri but was denied by Ulrich’s leg. 

After the break, manager Doan Phung started gambling, letting skipper Nguyen Ngoc Thanh Tuan, Vo Tien Thanh and Nguyen Cuu Phu advance on Binh Duong goal.

He replaced goalkeeper Ulrich with goalkeeper Mai Duc Hanh, to pave the way for striker Alfa Potowabawi, in order to seek an equaliser.

However, Huda Hue had to pay the price for their risky decisions as goalkeeper Duc Hanh failed to replace Ulrich in stopping the visiting strikers.

On 64 minutes, Duc Hanh fumbled Philani’s throw-in, gifting Kesley a chance to score his second goal in the match.

Duc Hanh then failed to catch a cross, giving substitute Nguyen Anh Duc an opportunity to

 score, but the Vietnamese Olympic striker finished wide. 

The victory helped Binh Duong stand alone at the top of the table after Da Nang fell 2-0 to their visiting PISICO Binh Dinh. Binh Duong are eight points clear of Da Nang and crowned the champions of the first stage with one game to go.

By contrast, the defeat left Huda Hue in critical situation. They dropped to the relegation zone to replace Hoa Phat Hanoi. Next week, they will have a tough visit to Thanh Hoa.

Huda Hue: Munze Urich, Nguyen Huynh Diep, Nguyen Cuu Phi, Marcelo Barbieri, Nguyen Dong Phuong, Vo Tien Thanh, Nguyen Canh Lam, Nguyen Ngoc Thanh Tuan, Vo Van Minh, Nguyen Duc Quy and Andew Opara; and

Binh Duong: Nguyen The Anh, Nguyen Hoang Vuong, Pham Dinh Phuoc, Huynh Quang Thanh, Vu Nhu Thanh, Phung Cong Minh, Nguyen Vu Phong, Tran Truong Giang, Amaobi Uzowuru, Alves Kesley and Philani.

Southern Steel Saigon Port celebrated Helio Da Silva Assis's goal, which was the beginning of Halida Thanh Hoa fans' violence. (Photo:Vietnamnet).

Elsewhere in Ho Chi Minh City, Halida Thanh Hoa may be facing a new penalty for their fans’ violence resulting in a suspension of the match between them and Southern Steel Saigon Port.

The match was suspended on 63 minutes, when Halida Thanh Hoa fans showed their violent attitude, throwing what they had to the pitch when their team trailed 2-0.

Halida Thanh Hoa travelled south in the hope of continuing their fairy tale start and extending their unbeaten run to 11 games. Many Halida Thanh Hoa's fans travelled with their team and they dominated in large numbers at the Military Region Seven stadium.

Southern Steel Saigon Port were struggling. The absence of their top striker Elenildo De Jesus added difficulties to the hosts.  

However, the hosts opened the scoring after 16 minutes. Minh Chuyen set up Cao Tung A Vy with a good chance to beat goalkeeper Lytovka Mykola.

Just before half-time, both team had their chances. Southern Steel Saigon Port’s Helio Da Silva Assis was denied by Mykola.

At the other end, Le Van Thanh failed to beat goalkeeper Hoang Cong Vuong.

Ten minutes into the second half, Inerepamo Amakuro fouled Kleber Dis Santos in the penalty box and referee Dang Thanh Ha pointed to the spot and Southern Steel Saigon Port’s Da Silva Assis successfully converted his penalty kick.

Amakuro was sent off for his foul.

Halida Thanh Hoa fans' threw whatever they had onto the pitch. (Photo:Vietnamnet).

On the stands, Halida Thanh Hoa’s fans started their clash with the home fans. Many Halida Thanh Hoa fans threw plastic bottles of water and whatever they had onto the pitch, some of which they had set on fire. They even threw fire to the pitch.

Its order could not be restored, the organising board and match officials decided to suspend the match, after one hour and 10 minutes.

The management board of the Military Region Seven stadium will be fined because of its failure to ensure safety and security for the match. 

Southern Steel Saigon Port: Hoang Cong Vuong, Nguyen Minh Chuyen, Cao Tung A Vy, Truong Van Hung, Helio Da Silva Assis, Ngu Chi Thang, Joao  Da Silva, Tran Nguyen Quang, Nguyen Dai Dong, Luu Ngoc Hung and  Kleber Dis Santos; and

Halida Thanh Hoa: Lytovka Mykola, Le Huu Thang, Kizito Lawrence, Mai Xuan Hop, Ha Hoang Dam, Wandwasi Rodgers, Nguyen Thanh Dung, Dong Huy Thai, La Manh Tuong, Hoang Thanh Tung and Le Van Thanh.

Ngoc Tuan

V-League, May 20