The fourth round of the V-League Eximbank 2014 was a successful round for the hosts. The southern teams did not fare so well, and the stunning comeback by the top scorer of the V-League 2012. These are among the round’s five main highlights.

The goal scored by Anh Duc (centre) could not save Becamex Binh Duong from a final 1-2 loss

1. A successful round for the hosts
Four of the five host teams were victorious in this round of play. Thanh Hoa earned three additional points to remain atop the standings. V-League newbies Quang Ninh Coal made a surprise climbing to second place on seven points, while Vicem Hai Phong moved up to fifth with six points. Hoang Anh Gia Lai escaped from the bottom of the table, jumping three spots to end the day in eighth place with four points.

2. Southern teams fall
Three southern teams headed north to play the guests in their fourth-round matches and all of them returned home in deep sorrow. Dong Tam Long An suffered a 0-3 loss to newbies Quang Ninh Coal, while Becamex Binh Duong lost unexpectedly 1-2 to Thanh Hoa. Hung Vuong An Giang also failed to manage an upset against Vicem Hai Phong, conceding a 0-2 defeat.

3. The vigorous comeback of Timothy Anjembe
Despite being named the V-League 2012 top scorer, Timothy Anjembe underperformed in the 2013 season, scoring just three goals in the colours of XM The Vissai Ninh Binh. Although in that moment he seemed to have lost the trust of football lovers, the Nigerian star has made a vigorous comeback.

Timothy’s hat-trick, scored in the goal of Song Lam Nghe An last weekend, not only helped Hoang Anh Gia Lai secure the full three points on their home field, but also lifted him to the top of this year’s goal tally.

4. Becamex Binh Duong continue to lag behind
After two disappointing rounds of play, Becamex Binh Duong invited trainer Le Thuy Hai to become their technical director with a view to improving the situation. However, this weekend’s result remained unchanged as Binh Duong suffered their second loss in this year’s season in their fourth-round match against Thanh Hoa.

It is still too early to say the championship opportunity has gone out of reach from Becamex Binh Duong, but their ambition to regain the V-League title is becoming more and more difficult to attain.

5. Song Lam Nghe An lose form
Despite a commanding start with two victories against newbies Quang Ninh Coal and QNK Quang Nam, Song Lam Nghe An fell off the ‘horse’s back’ against other stronger teams. Following their 1-2 loss to Thanh Hoa in Round 3 was a humiliating 1-3 defeat at the hands of Hoang Anh Gia Lai in their fourth-round match at Pleiku Stadium on Sunday. With two consecutives defeats, Song Lam Nghe An are losing their advantage in the bid for this year’s championship title.

(Source: Nhan Dan Online)