Hanoi T&T and SHB Da Nang are closely chasing SLNA.

A day after Song Lam Nghe An defeated Hoang Anh Gia Lai to extend their lead to 4 points, Hanoi T&T and SHB Da Nang restored their close pursuit by securing important victories against Becamex Binh Duong and The Vissai Ninh Binh respectively.

Meanwhile, a major surprise occurred when Vicem Hai Phong secured a resounding 4-0 victory against Dong Nai, while Thanh Hoa suffered a 1-2 defeat at home against Xuan Thanh Saigon.

Merlo sealed SHB Da Nang's 2-0 victory over The Vissai Ninh Binh.
(Photo: Van Son/VNA)

In the match at Hang Day Stadium, the heavy rain in Hanoi foreshadowed a goalfest for the home team, especially when Van Hieu opened the scoring just minutes after the opening whistle.

By the 25th minute, the score was 2-0 after Samson's finish from a pass by Ngoc Duy.

Towards the end of the first half, Tang Tuan narrowed the score for Binh Duong, but that was all the visiting team could manage.

In the 61st minute, Thanh Luong delivered a perfect cross for Samson to head in his second goal of the match, before Thach Bao Khanh sealed the 4-1 victory for the home team at the end of the game.

Meanwhile, at Chi Lang Stadium, it wasn't until the 56th minute that Hoang Quang opened the scoring for SHB Da Nang. With only 8 minutes left in the match, Gaston Merlo scored a solo goal to make it 2-0.

With these results, after 17 rounds, the two teams owned by Mr. Hien continue to closely trail SLNA with a difference of only 1 point respectively (SLNA 32 points, Hanoi T&T 31, SHB Da Nang 30) while HAGL has dropped to fourth place.

Meanwhile, just days after their surprising victory against SHB Da Nang in a rescheduled match, Dong Nai, coached by Hai Phong native Tran Binh Su, suffered a crushing defeat against his hometown team. Among Hai Phong's four goals was a brace from Quang Hai, ending the team's seven-match winless streak.

In the other match, Thanh Hoa also unexpectedly lost to Xuan Thanh Saigon 1-2 at home, with the visitors' second goal being controversial because Moses's save had already gone out of bounds.

Spectators in Thanh Hoa threw shoes and bottles onto the field in protest against the referee's decision to award the goal, causing the match to be interrupted for several minutes.

Round 17 of V-League 2013:

July 27th

Long An FC - Kien Giang FC 3-2
Song Lam Nghe An - Hoang Anh Gia Lai 1-0

July 28th

SHB Da Nang - V. Ninh Binh 2-0
Hanoi T&T - B.Binh Duong 4-1
XM V. Hai Phong - Dong Nai 4-0
Thanh Hoa - XMXT Saigon 1-2

According to (Vietnam+) - DT