The absence of two regular stalwarts failed to prevent Hai Phong from chalking their 11th win of the season as they romped to a comfortable 3-1 win over Binh Duong in the Toyota V-League this week.
Andre Diego Fagan and Anthony Stevens were slapped with a three match ban each following their ‘indiscretion’ against referee Vo Minh Tri in their previous game.
But Hai Phong were not to be outdone despite seeing Vietnam international Le Cong Vinh opening the lead after just fifteen minutes following a cross from Le Tan Tai.
Nguyen Dinh Bao leveled the score for Hai Phong in the 28th minute as Le Van Thang then gave Hai Phong the lead for the first time in the game with a clinical finish six minutes later.
Dinh Bao then stretched Hai Phong’s lead further with his second goal of the game just before the break. Binh Duong tried to close the gap into the second half but it was all in vain as Hai Phong stood firm at the back to stem the onslaught.
The win allowed Hai Phong to remain at the top of the V-League with 37 points from 19 matches played as Binh Duong remained ninth with 24 points from the same number of games.
Elsewhere, Hanoi T&T maintained their chase on second at the table with a 2-1 win on the road over SHB Da Nang at the Chi Lang Stadium.
FLC Thanh Haa fell to a 3-1 loss to Hoang Anh Gia Lai, Dong Thap drew 1-1 with Quang Ninh Coal, Quang Nam drew goalless with Can Tho, Saigon FC drew 1-1 with Khanh Hoa.
TOYOTA V- LEAGUE 2016 Current Standings
| No | Team | P | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
| 1 | Hai Phong | 19 | 11 | 4 | 4 | 32 | 21 | +11 | 37 |
| 2 | Hanoi T&T | 19 | 11 | 2 | 6 | 36 | 25 | +11 | 35 |
| 3 | SHB Da Nang | 19 | 10 | 4 | 5 | 29 | 23 | +6 | 34 |
| 4 | FLC Thanh Hoa | 19 | 10 | 3 | 6 | 40 | 31 | +9 | 33 |
| 5 | Than Quang Ninh | 19 | 10 | 3 | 6 | 29 | 24 | +5 | 33 |
| 6 | QNK Quang Nam | 19 | 7 | 9 | 3 | 28 | 21 | +7 | 30 |
| 7 | Saigon | 19 | 7 | 7 | 5 | 24 | 21 | +3 | 28 |
| 8 | XSKT Can Tho | 19 | 8 | 2 | 9 | 28 | 24 | +4 | 26 |
| 9 | Becamex Bình Duong | 19 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 29 | 27 | +2 | 24 |
| 10 | Song Lam Nghe An | 19 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 25 | 25 | 0 | 24 |
| 11 | Sanna Khanh Hoa | 19 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 22 | 23 | -1 | 24 |
| 12 | Hoang Anh Gia Lai | 19 | 5 | 3 | 11 | 23 | 36 | -13 | 18 |
| 13 | Long An | 19 | 4 | 3 | 12 | 20 | 37 | -17 | 15 |
| 14 | Dong Thap | 19 | 1 | 4 | 14 | 15 | 42 | -27 | 7 |
