Military-owned club crowned champions of Vietnam football league
Sunday, November 08, 2020, 22:15 GMT+7
Military-owned Viettel FC have become the champions of Vietnam’s top-flight V-League 1 following their victory over hosts Saigon FC on Sunday night.
Viettel needed a win to claim the title regardless of the result of the game on the same day between second-placed Hanoi FC and hosts Than Quang Ninh FC.
Reigning champions Hanoi had been two points adrift of Viettel before this last round of the 2020 season.
The military club were off to a cautious start despite the pressure to beat the hosts, who had nothing to lose in this game at Thong Nhat Stadium in Ho Chi Minh City.
Eighteen minutes into the showdown, Bruno Cunha Cantanhede raced from behind to head home a Nguyen Hoang Duc free kick from the right flank to put Viettel in the lead.
Viettel staged a solid defense line and counterattack formation following the precious goal.
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| Viettel FC players throw their coach Truong Viet Hoang in the air to celebrate their V-League 1 championship after beating Saigon FC 1-0 in the final game of the season at Thong Nhat Stadium in Ho Chi Minh City, November 8, 2020. Photo: Nguyen Khoi / Tuoi Tre |
Few chances were created by both sides given Viettel’s strong defense and Saigon’s lack of real motivations to level the score, as the hosts would gain nothing from even a triumph in this match.
Bruno’s header turned out to be the winning goal that sealed Viettel’s V-League 1 title this season.
Hanoi beat Than Quang Ninh 4-0 in the other game.
Viettel ended the league with 41 points, followed by Hanoi, who earned 39 points, and Saigon with 34 points.
The champions were rewarded with VND3 billion (US$129,000), the runners-up with half the amount, and the third-placed club with VND750 million ($32,000).
Hanoi have won five trophies since the 2010 season.
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