DOWN TO THE FINAL WHISTLE FOR SLNA AND HANOI

HANOI (16 Aug 2011) – It will be down to the final whistle of the V-League 2011 later this week to decide which team is the best in Vietnam.

As things stand, Song Lam Ngeh An (SLNA) are perched at the top of the V-League 2011 after picking up a further three points where this week, the came from behind at the National My Dinh stadium, to beat struggling Hanoi ACB 3-2.

Thanh Luong had given ACB the lead after just eight minutes but Van Binh levelled the score when he headed home in the 17th minute to be followed by goals from Nguyen Hoang Helio’s penalty on 57 minute and another from Trong Hoang in th 65^th minute.

Lucas Cantoro’s late strike could not even salvage a point for ACB where following the loss, the side from capital has been relegated to the lower first division for the 2012 season.

With the win and the three points, SLNA have picked up 48 points – three points ahead of defending champions and second-placed Hanoi T&T, who this week at the Hang Day Stadium, edged Hai Phong 1-0 with the only goal in the game coming off international Le Cong Vinh in the 69^th minute.

And appropriately enough, the decisive game to crown which team is the champion of the V-League 2011 will see SLNA battling Hanoi T&T in their final game of the season.

Elsewhere this week saw Hoa Phat Hanoi fighting back to beat Dong Tam Long An 3-2 at the Long An Stadium as Khanh Hoa beat Thanh Hoa 4-2 at the Nha Trang Stadium.

Navibank Saigon edged Hoang Anh Gia Lai 2-1 while Ninh Binh trounced Dong Thap 2-0 as third-placed Da Nang were held to a 1-1 draw by Binh Duong at the At Go Dau Stadium.