Second rankers Song Da-Nam Dinh met with a scoreless tie with Gach Dong Tam Long An at their home in Thien Truong Stadium yesterday in the V-League's 17th round.

Meanwhile at Hanoi Stadium, The Cong earned their third 3-1 win of the season over visitors Delta-Dong Thap, though they have yet to climb out of the bottom rank.

At Thien Truong Stadium, hosts Nam Dinh stepped confidently onto the field backed by the mad support of more than 4,000 fans and their own hunger to win the top rank from Hoang Anh-Gia Lai, who were held to a 2-2 tie by Eastern Asia Bank last Friday at Thong Nhat Stadium in HCM City.

Though Nam Dinh suffered from the absence of two midfielder stars - Van Sy, who had received a yellow card, and Trung Kien, who was currently injured - they were still energised enough to strike right after the starting whistle.

Fabio Santos, Long An's Brazilian goalkeeper, upset all of their attacks.

In the 25th minute, fans beat drums to support their team's assault from defender Trong Loc, who aimed for the goal from 30m away, but the ball hit the bar to jump out of the pitch.

The teams were neck and neck throughout the last minutes of the first half, with each volleying the same number of attacks.

The hosts resumed their dominance in the second half, though Long An managed to defend themselves in a very tight area.

There were other high moments, but in the end all anyone could do was smile weakly at the goalless draw, which kept Nam Dinh in second place in the V-League with 37 points, one less than leaders Gia Lai.

Bottom-rankers The Cong gave their 1,500 fans in Hanoi Star a better reason to be enthusiastic after taking a 3-1 win over visitors Delta Dong Thap, who stood in 9th place.

The Cong began the match with a series of attacks to test Dong Thap's defending line.

But Dong Thap held off each of the hosts' advances in the first 10 minutes, while doing everything they could to earn just one goal.

Heavy rain delayed the match 15 minutes, but after it ended and the game resumed, Duy Quang of Dong Thap earned the first goal of the game in the 15th minute.

Quang took advantage of the chaos inside The Cong's box to put his team-ahead with a goal from a close kick to the narrow left corner.

After several minutes of frustration, The Cong finally levelled the score in the 36th minute.

Midfielder Van Nam aimed for the net from 35m away, but Dong Thap's goalkeeper dove to deflect the shot.

Right when the ball hit the ground, striker Dang Phuong Nam of The Cong came in to kick it into the net while the rivals' goalkeeper was still trying to weaken the positions for his defenders.

In the 70th minute, The Cong moved ahead with a goal from team captain Quoc Trung. Quoc Trung, who suffered a penalty after his teammate Thach Bao Khanh was fouled for putting his right foot inside the box, had no problems getting the ball into the net.

Nine minutes before the closing whistle, Duc Manh sealed the 3-1 win for the hosts in a single run from his ground to Dong Thap's net.

Despite the win, The Cong still stood at the very bottom of the rankings, though they shared their spot with Vinausteel-Hai Phong, who suffered another loss to Song Lam-Nghe An later yesterday at Vinh Stadium.

In the last game of the round, Da Nang beat LG-Ha Noi Asia Commercial Bank 2-1 at Chi Lang Stadium.

(Source: Viet Nam News)