Saigon FC relegated
Saigon FC entered the final round without the right to self-determination. They must win against Binh Duong and hope Ha Tinh draw or lose to Thanh Hoa. The situation is more difficult for coach Phung Thanh Phuong, when the club is in economic crisis, owes bonuses, players' handouts and faces the risk of dissolution.
However, the Saigon FC players still played with determination. They pushed up the offensive formation right after the opening whistle, many times the entire defense overflowed into the opponent's field. In the 8th minute, the homeowner took the lead thanks to the flash of Hong Son. The 22-year-old midfielder took a penalty from outside the box in the style of Cristiano Ronaldo, putting the ball straight into the near corner, making goalkeeper Lai Tuan Vu unable to touch the ball.
The joy doubled for coach Phung Thanh Phuong's team when at the same time, Thanh Hoa equalized 1-1 after letting Ha Tinh open the scoring right in the 3rd minute. Calculating the result until then, Saigon had the same 22 points but ranked above Ha Tinh thanks to a better head-to-head record.
After the goal, Binh Duong rose to gain control of the ball. However, the day did not use a series of pillars such as Nguyen Tien Linh, To Van Vu, Welington, Truong Du Dat... the away team did not create many opportunities.
At this time, Saigon played defensively and counter-attacked, but their players lacked positional sensitivity, often falling into the offside trap. In the 37th minute, coach Phung Thanh Phuong's army was pushed to the bottom of the table again, when Ha Tinh rose to lead Thanh Hoa for the second time thanks to Janclesio's header.
In the second half, Binh Duong threw the old general Huynh Kesley into the field. But when the visitors' attack was not better, they conceded the second goal. In the 50th minute, Lam Thuan could not defeat goalkeeper Tuan Vu in the face-to-face situation, but the ball went to Nguyen Viet Phong's position. From the midfielder's cross, Matheus headed to make it 2-0. Matheus is the only foreign player to play for Saigon FC for the second consecutive match when the duo Olsen and Nanitelamio "strike" because they are owed money.
Having two goals, Saigon FC sagged, letting Binh Duong win the game, creating many delicious opportunities. Goalkeeper Van Phong played brilliantly, won Edyson in the face-to-face situation in the 67th minute and three minutes later successfully blocked Hoang Phuong's dangerous long shot. But in the 80th minute he still had to concede a goal when defender Anh Viet made a mistake to clear the ball, changing direction after Viet Cuong's light long shot.
Saigon FC then focused on defending, keeping the victory. They fulfilled the necessary conditions for relegation, but it was not enough when in the match at the same time Ha Tinh won the team that had run out of goals, Thanh Hoa 2-1. Saigon scored 22 points, two points lower than Ha Tinh.
After the game, the Saigon players were sent to the motel, but their salaries and bonuses have not been fully paid. They also do not know the future of the team when there is news that the sponsor will withdraw due to economic difficulties. "Winning, but today is more sad than happy, because I don't know what tomorrow will be," said player Huynh Tan Tai sadly after the match on Thong Nhat Stadium. "Today we can still fight on the field together, but maybe tomorrow the name Saigon FC will no longer exist. This is a very sad ending."
