ONE POINT ENOUGH FOR HAIPHONG TO GO TOP

Haiphong held Saigon Port to a 1-1 and they took advantage to go top following the loss suffered by close rivals The Cong when they were beaten 3-1 by Dong Tam Long An.

Saigon Port were a lot more determined in the opening quarter of an hour as they launched a series of attacks which Haiphong had little difficulty in absorbing.

A disallowed goal in the 14th minute was the high point in the first half as both teams remained in a deadlock at the break.

However, Haiphong were quicker into the second half as Ngoc Thanh blasted in the lead in the 55th minute before Saigon Port replied off Van Tien who rifled in a 30-metre shot to the roof of the Haiphong net.

The one point helped Haiphong (in red in pix) to be back on top with 28 points as The Cong settled for the second spot albeit with the same 28 points.

In the meantime, Hoang Anh Gia Lai secured a win over Thanh Hoa with the only goal of the game coming off Thai striker Datsakorn Thonglao in the 69th minute to remain on third with 28pts.

In other matches, Binh Dinh beat Hanoi ACB 1-0, climbing up two places to tenth as Da Nang and Hoa Phat Hanoi shared one point in a 1-1 draw.

Defending champions Binh Duong moved up one place to sixth with a 1-0 home win over Song Lam Nghe An while Khanh Hoa beat Nam Dinh 3-2 at home to remain on eighth.

CURRENT V-LEAGUE STANDINGS (After 17 matches)

1. HAIPHONG 28pts

2. THE CONG 28pts

3. HOANG ANH GIA LAI 28pts

4. DONG TAM LONG AN 27pts

5. SAIGON PORT 26pts

6. BINH DUONG 26pts

7. SONG LAM NGHE AN 25pts

8. KHANH HOA 25pts

9. DA NANG 20pts

10. BINH DINH 19pts

11. NAM DINH 19pts

12. THANH HOA 17pts

13. HANOI ACB 13pts

14. HOA PHAT HANOI 12pts