Da Nang - Binh Duong: Reverse final in Hoa Xuan

The five matches in the second phase of V-League 2023 are now like a final against bottom-placed Binh Duong, starting with a trip to Hoa Xuan today.

After the 2015 championship, Binh Duong began to decline, but was still in the championship race in 2020, when the V-League first applied the grouping format in the second phase. But now, no one can recognize the image of the team that won the V-League four times.

Binh Duong has Rimario and Tien Linh, the foreign and domestic strikers who are considered the best in the league. But after the first phase, they changed their head coach twice but were still the only team without a win and had to finish at the bottom of the table with seven points. The prospect of Binh Duong following in the footsteps of Saigon Port, Long An and Quang Nam to become the fourth V-League champion to be relegated has emerged.

Da Nang (orange shirt) and Binh Duong (blue shirt) drew 1-1 in the first phase of V-League 2023. Photo: Viet Dinh — Da Nang (orange shirt) and Binh Duong (blue shirt) drew 1-1 in the first phase of V-League 2023. Photo: *Viet Dinh*

On the rankings, Binh Duong is three and one points behind the two teams above, Da Nang and Ho Chi Minh City Club. And in the first round of the second phase, Binh Duong will travel to Hoa Xuan Stadium to play away against Da Nang at 6:00 p.m. today, July 15. Also here in the first phase, the two teams drew 1-1.

Coach Le Huynh Duc reunites with his old team, where his name is closely associated with two V-League championships in 2009 and 2012. But the 51-year-old coach will have to put aside his feelings to aim for victory with Binh Duong and save himself.

Binh Duong's task is not easy to accomplish when Da Nang has many changes in physical strength and playing style under coach Pham Minh Duc. This coach is confident that if they continue to play like the match when they defeated Cong An Ha Noi (CAHN) 1-0 in the previous round, Da Nang will be able to defeat all opponents in the relegation group. With home field advantage, Da Nang's chance of winning three points is considered higher.

The remaining two matches of the relegation group will also take place today. In Pleiku, HAGL will host Khanh Hoa at 5:00 p.m., while Ho Chi Minh City FC will travel to Vinh Stadium to meet SLNA at 6:00 p.m.

SLNA, HAGL and Khanh Hoa maintain a safe distance of two wins or more from the bottom team Binh Duong, thereby creating a comfortable spirit. Meanwhile, Ho Chi Minh City Club is also in a difficult situation like Binh Duong when forced to aim for victory.

The remaining match today is in the championship race between Viettel and Hai Phong at 7:15 p.m. at Hang Day Stadium . Viettel is excited after reaching the semi-finals of the National Cup, now returning to the V-League to continue the championship race. Viettel still has a chance with 21 points, only four points behind the top team CAHN. The team has a quality, young, self-trained squad that is eager to prove itself. The task of winning points for Hai Phong is not simple even though the port city team and coach Chu Dinh Nghiem have just won the awards for the best team and coach of June.