SHB Da Nang have won the 2016 Hoang Anh Gia Lai (HAGL) 4-team tournament after fighting back from 3-0 down to convincingly defeat Sanna Khanh Hoa 3-4 in a dramatic match at the Pleiku Stadium last Friday.

As tournament champions, SHB DN are now participating in the international 3-team tournament which is taking place at the same venue from 24 - 30 January.  The other 2 teams are HAGL and Yokohama FC from Japan.

In the opening match of this 3-team tournament, SHB DN defeated HAGL 3-1.  SHB DN started the match very well and opened the scoring in the 37^th minute thanks to Macedonian-German striker Ramiz Pasiov’s perfect free kick near the penalty area.  In the final 10 minutes of the first half, SHB DN’s Russian striker Vladislav Aleksandrovich Ivanov scored the second goal when he was mistakenly given the ball by HAGL’s young midfielder Viet Hung.

SHB DN’s striker Merlo with the ball (Photo: Tuoitrenews)

In the 69^th minute, second-half substitute Gaston Merlo made the score 3-0 to SHB DN.  In the very last minute of second-half stoppage time, HAGL’s striker Osmar scored a consolation goal, but SHB DN hung on to win the match.   

At 5.00pm on 27 and 30 January, Yokohama FC will meet SHB DN and HAGL respectively.

The winners of this tournament will receive a cup and 100 million VND.  60 million VND and 40 million VND will go to the teams finishing second and third respectively.  The tournament’s organising board, with the approval of the participating teams, will then deduct 50% of the cash prizes and 25% of the money from ticket sales in order to donate to the ‘Com Co Thit’ (Rice with Meat) Fund for disadvantaged highlanders across the country.    

Both tournaments will have provided a good opportunity for SHB DN’s coach, Le Huynh Duc, to test the skills of his new recruits and select the best players for the coming season.