Matches in the 1^st round of the V League 2016 took place at stadiums nationwide last weekend.

SHB Da Nang earned 3 points by beating Dong Thap 2-1 at the Chi Lang Stadium on Saturday.  SHB DN made a great start thanks to a penalty scored by their Argentinian striker Gaston Merlo in the 7^th minute, and only 13 minutes later he scored again.

In the 62^nd minute, Dong Thap were themselves awarded a penalty after a mistake by SHB DN’s midfielder Phuoc Vinh.  The penalty was successfully converted by midfielder Tran Minh Loi to help his team narrow the gap to 2-1, but SHB DN hung on to win the match.

SHB DN’s striker Merlo

Of the other matches played, the most remarkable was last season’s next-to-bottom finishers Hoang Anh Gia Lai’s away win at newly-promoted Ha Noi.  With the score at 0-0 after 73 minutes, HAGL scored 5 times in the final 17 minutes - perhaps a warning to SHB DN who play HAGL next.  Thanh Hoa defeated Ha Noi T&T 3-0 at home, whilst Can Tho suffered a 2-0 loss away to Binh Duong.  Dong Tam Long An beat QNK Quang Nam 1-0 at the Long An Stadium, Sanna Khanh Hoa had a 1-2 away win over Quang Ninh, whilst Song Lam Nghe An were defeated at home 0-2 by Hai Phong.

The matches in the 2^nd round will take place on 27 and 28 February, with SHB DN  away to HAGL at 5.00pm on the Sunday.  Defending champions Binh Duong’s match against QNK Quang Nam has been moved to 18 May because they are playing in the ongoing 2016 AFC Champions League.