HO CHI MINH CITY (20 March 2012) – Saigon FC and Hanoi T&T are tied at the top of the V-League Eximbank this week despite the uninspiring results they scored in their respective matches. Saigon fell to their first defeat of the season following their 2-0 loss to Ninh Binh on the road at the Ninh Binh Stadium as Hanoi T&T drew Khanh Hoa 1-1 at the Nha Trang Stadium.
Saigon, who had gone nine matches without a loss, finally succumbed to the pressure after a goalless first half for Van Thanh to head home the cross from Gustavo Dourado for the lead on 58 minute. Ten minutes to the end, Tien Thanh then wrapped up the full points for the homesters with the second goal of the afternoon.
But the loss failed to dislodge Saigon from the top spot as their 19 points is equal to Hanoi T&T following the latter’s 1-1 draw against Khanh Hoa.
Elsewhere, Hanoi FC’s disappointing scoreless draw against defending champions Song Lam Nghe An (SLNA) was compounded with the injury to top striker Le Cong Vinh. The draw was Hanoi FC’s second draw of the season and which has resulted in them being placed tenth in the 18 team V-League.
For SLNA, they will have to double their effort should they aspire to defend the crown they won last year, considering that they are now ranked seventh with 14 points – from just two wins and eight draws.
In the meantime, former champions SHB Da Nang fell to a 3-1 loss to Navibank Saigon as Dong Thap battled to a goalless draw against Hoang Anh Gia Lai. Binh Duong defeated Hai Phong 1-0 at the Lach Tray Stadium and Kien Giang drew goalless with Thanh Hoa at Rach Gia Stadium.
CURRENT V-LEAGUE EXIMBANK 2012 STANDINGS
| No | Team | P | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
| 1 | Sàigòn | 10 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 19 | 10 | +9 | 19 |
| 2 | Hànội T&T | 10 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 15 | 12 | +3 | 19 |
| 3 | Becamex Bình Dương | 10 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 12 | 7 | +5 | 17 |
| 4 | SHB Ðà Nẵng | 10 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 19 | 15 | +4 | 16 |
| 5 | The Vissai Ninh Bình | 10 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 13 | 14 | −1 | 15 |
| 6 | Hoàng Anh Gia Lai | 10 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 12 | 14 | −2 | 15 |
| 7 | Sông Lam Nghệ An | 10 | 2 | 8 | 0 | 11 | 8 | +3 | 14 |
| 8 | Khatoco Khánh Hòa | 10 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 16 | 16 | 0 | 12 |
| 9 | Navibank Sàigòn | 10 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 13 | 14 | −1 | 12 |
| 10 | Hànội | 10 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 18 | 19 | −1 | 11 |
| 11 | TĐCS Đồng Tháp | 10 | 2 | 5 | 3 | 12 | 13 | −1 | 11 |
| 12 | Thanh Hóa | 10 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 11 | 13 | −2 | 10 |
| 13 | Kienlongbank Kiên Giang | 10 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 10 | 16 | −6 | 7 |
| 14 | Vicem Hải Phòng | 10 | 1 | 3 | 6 | 9 | 20 | −11 | 6 |
