HANOI (12 Jan 2015) – Heavyweight Hoang Anh Gia Lai (HAGL) were served with an early reality check when Dong Tam Long An handed them their first defeat of the recently started Toyota V-League 2015 season.
The match at Dong Tam’s own turf of the Long An Stadium was just the second match of Vietnam’s top flight.
In front of more than 11,000 fans, a cross from Rafael Dos Santos Lima in the 22nd minute was headed into the net by midfielder Tran Chi Cong.
Pham Van Tien’s goal was plundered again in the 65th minute when substitute Nguyen Thanh Hai slammed home to give Dong Tam their second of the afternoon.
HAGL narrowed the score line in the 75th minute off Swedish striker Darko Lukanovic but that failed to ignite a revival as Dong Tam picked up their first full points of the season.
In the meantime, former champions SHB Da Nang continued to suffer when they conceded their second loss in as many matches. After falling to Thanh Hoa last week, they fell to a 2-1 defeat at home to Song Lam Nghe An (SLNA) this time round.
Elsewhere, defending champions Becamex Binh Duong powered past Quang Nam 4-2 as Hanoi T&T edged Quang Ninh Coal 1-0.
Hai Phong crushed Thanh Hoa 2-0, Dong Thap drew Can Tho 1-1, and Sanna Khanh Hoa defeated Dong Nai 2-1.
TOYOTA V-LEAGUE 2015 Current Standings
| No | Team | P | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
| 1 | Becamex Bình Dương | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 3 | +7 | 6 |
| 2 | Hải Phòng | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | +5 | 6 |
| 3 | Đồng Tâm Long An | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 2 | +1 | 4 |
| 4 | Hà Nội T&T | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | +1 | 4 |
| 5 | Hoàng Anh Gia Lai | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 4 | +1 | 3 |
| 6 | Than Quảng Ninh | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | +1 | 3 |
| 7 | Sanna Khánh Hòa | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 5 | −1 | 3 |
| 8 | Thanh Hóa | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | −1 | 3 |
| 9 | Sông Lam Nghệ An | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 4 | −2 | 3 |
| 10 | XSKT Cần Thơ | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| 11 | QNK Quảng Nam | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4 | −2 | 1 |
| 12 | Đồng Tháp | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 7 | −5 | 1 |
| 13 | SHB Đà Nẵng | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 4 | −2 | 0 |
| 14 | Đồng Nai | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 4 | −3 | 0 |
