Despite his team's failure to win a crucial three points on Thursday night against Viettel, Ha Noi FC coach Chu Dinh Nghiem has said this season's dramatic V.League 1 title race will come down to the wire.

Viettel vs Ha Noi in the V.League 1 match on Thursday. The two teams drew 0-0. Photo nhandan.com.vn

After the goalless draw against Viettel at Hang Day Stadium on Thursday, Ha Noi stand third with 33 points after 18 matches, while Viettel stay top on 35 points, Sài Gòn FC are in second with 34 points and Quang Ninh Coal are fourth with 31 points.

Despite the favourable result against defending champions Ha Noi, Viettel's path to the championship is not smooth as they have matches against two top-four reams, namely Quảng Ninh and Sài Gòn.

“This draw was an unfortunate result for us, although both teams had the opportunities but we didn’t take advantage of them. In the collision situation between Rimario Gordon of Ha Noi and captain of Viettel, Bui Tien Dung, Dung deserved to get a second yellow card, but it was the referee's decision. Viettel slowed the speed of the match to seek a point. Our player Nguyen Quang Hai didn’t always shine,” said Nghiêm.

“Defender Doan Van Hau couldn’t play in this match because he hasn’t recovered well from his injury. If Hậu was in good form then I would have used him in a deadlocked match to make use of his height,” Nghiêm added.

"At the moment, no one can guess which team will take the title. Viettel still have to play Quang Ninh and Sai Gon. The goal difference of Ha Noi is the best if the teams have the same points as each other. If Ha Noi can defeat Sai Gon in the next match, then the race is still dramatic and unpredictable. The championship race is now a matter of four teams. If a team has a bad result in the upcoming match, their position will be pushed down,” said Nghiem.

"We studied Ha Noi a lot. They hold the ball well. I asked my players not to leave space for our opponent. When Ha Noi had the ball, there was no space for them to finish,” said coach Truong Viet Hoang of Viettel.

“The defenders played hard and followed the tactics of the coaching staff well. Our goal was to win at least one point. Now it's too much to talk about the championship race, just one match can change many things. We set the highest goal in the match against Quang Ninh. I feel normal with the draw against Ha Noi, it isn’t a win to celebrate,” Hoang added.

Meanwhile, coach Vu Tien Thanh of Sai Gon is confident that Ha Noi will be going all out to defend their championship.

"Now I can't say anything about the championship race. Ha Noi have a great chance, but if they want to win, they have to beat Sai Gon. In the first leg, we beat Ha Noi 1-0. Everyone said Ha Noi were better, but we beat them so there is no reason not to win again," said Thanh following the 2-1 victory of Sai Gon over Quang Ninh on Thursday.

Thành said the win over Quang Ninh helped his team have a chance to earn a ticket to the AFC Cup 2021 if they finish second in the league.

"I am concerned about this opportunity and want to put pressure on my players. We must have a ticket to the AFC Cup so that every week the Thong Nhat Stadium can light up," said Thanh.

Sài Gòn will meet Ha Noi on 3 November and with only one point separating them. 

Source: VNS