Premier League club Everton eyes Vietnamese forward

England’s Premier League club Everton has shown interest in Vietnamese striker Le Cong Vinh, the club's representative has said.

Steve Darby, who is Vietnam’s former national female football team coach, was a spectator at the Hanoi’s Hang Day Stadium to watch Vinh play in Hanoi FC’s game against Khatoco Khanh Hoa in the third round of the country’s top-flight Super League on Saturday.

His club beat visitors Khanh Hoa 4-1 but the 26-year-old Vinh did not make a significant contribution to the home win.

Vinh, whose late header earned Vietnam the ASEAN Football Federation championship in 2008, moved from Song Lam Nghe An to Hanoi T&T in 2009.

He was introduced by Vietnam’s then national men’s football coach Henrique Calisto to Portugal’s top-flight Liga Sagres club Leixoes when the 2009 V-League (currently called Super League) season ended.

However, Vinh did not play very well for Leixoes and returned to play the 2010 V-League season for Hanoi T&T, who won the league championship that year without Vinh’s contributing much.

Vinh moved from Hanoi T&T to Hanoi FC at the end of the 2011 season.

By Son Tung, Thanh Nien News

Super League makes impressive start

The derby between Saigon FC (Blue) and Navibank Saigon ended in a 2-2 draw at Thong Nhat Stadium on Sunday.

Twenty goals from seven matches were not many, but the first round of Vietnam’s top-tier Super League on the weekend was generally thrilling.

The most exciting match on Sunday was perhaps the scoreless draw at Vinh Stadium between visitors Thanh Hoa and the league champ Song Lam Nghe An (SLNA).

Despite having sold several of their favorite players, Thanh Hoa was still a strong, united team thanks to the management of coach Trieu Quang Ha.

The host SLNA had more scoring chances, but Thanh Hoa’s goalkeeper To Vinh Loi was excellent, and defenders were tough and stood firm until the final minute.

Another visiting team that was very good was Dong Thap, which had sold several of its best players while coach Pham Cong Loc moved to Navibank Saigon.

Dong Thap's young players nevertheless were in high spirits and were bold throughout the match, helping them to come back from two goals behind to earn a 2-2 draw with host Ninh Binh.

The derby between Navibank Saigon and Saigon FC was a see-saw game before ending in a 2-2 draw at Thong Nhat Stadium.

The 2010 champ Hanoi T&T beat neighbor Hanoi FC 1-0 at Hanoi’s Hang Day Stadium, while the 2009 champ SHB Da Nang struggled to defeat Khatoco Khanh Hoa 3-2 at Chi Lang Stadium.

In early matches on Saturday, the 2007-2008 champion Becamex Binh Duong beat visitor Kien Long Bank Kien Giang 2-0 at Go Dau Stadium. The 2004-2006 champ Hoang Anh Gia Lai won 3-1 against visiting squad Vicem Hai Phong at Pleiku Stadium.

By Thanh Nien News