2018 V.League 1

The 2018 V.League 1 season (for sponsorship reasons also known as Nuti Café V.League 1)[1] was the 35th season of the V.League 1, the highest division of Vietnamese football and the 18th as a professional league. The season started on 10 March 2018[2] and ran until 8 October 2018.[2] It was expected to be known as the Toyota V.League 1, however, in December 2017 Toyota ended their sponsorship deal with the Vietnam Football Federation one year early.[3]

Nuti Café V.League 1 - 2018
Season2018
Dates10 March – 8 October
ChampionsHanoi FC
4th VL1 title
4th Vietnamese title
RelegatedXSKT Cantho
AFC Champions LeagueHanoi FC
AFC CupBecamex Binh Duong
Matches played182
Goals scored541 (2.97 per match)
Top goalscorerGaniyu Oseni (16 goals)
Biggest home winHanoi FC 5–0 Hoang Anh Gia Lai
(5 April)
FLC Thanh Hoa 5–0 Quang Nam FC
(19 September)
Ho Chi Minh City FC 5–0 Saigon FC
(19 September)
Biggest away winSHB Danang 0–4 Hanoi FC
(14 April)
Highest scoring9 goals
Hanoi FC 6–3 Ho Chi Minh City FC
(8 July)
Longest winning run8 matches
Song Lam Nghe An
Longest unbeaten run13 matches
Hanoi FC
Longest winless run14 matches
Ho Chi Minh City FC
XSKT Cantho
Longest losing run7 matches
XSKT Cantho
Highest attendance22,000
Nam Dinh FC 0–0 XSKT Cantho
(11 March)
Lowest attendance0
Nam Dinh FC 1–1 Quang Nam FC
(21 July)
Total attendance1,139,800
Average attendance6,297
2017
2019
All statistics correct as of complete.

Changes from last season

Team changes

The following teams have changed division since the 2017 season.

Rule changes

Due to the increased number of teams in 2018 V.League 2 (10), there will be 1.5 relegation places in the 2018 V.League 1 season - the team finishing 14th will be relegated automatically, whilst the team finishing 13th will play a two-legged play-off against the team that finishes second in the 2018 V.League 2.[2]

The league will continue to operate the "2+1" foreigner rule, meaning each squad shall be allowed 2 non-Vietnamese players and 1 naturalised Vietnamese. FLC Thanh Hoa and Song Lam Nghe An shall be allowed 3 non-Vietnamese players, 1 naturalised Vietnamese and 1 player from Asia because they will participate in AFC Cup.

Teams

TeamLocationStadiumCapacityPrevious
season rank
Becamex Binh DuongBinh DuongGo Dau13,035VL1 (11th)
XSKT CanthoCanthoCantho60,000VL1 (13th)
SHB DanangDanangHoa Xuan20,000VL1 (9th)
Hoang Anh Gia LaiGia LaiPleiku12,000VL1 (10th)
Haiphong FCHaiphongLach Tray25,000VL1 (7th)
Hanoi FCHanoiHang Day22,500VL1 (3rd)
Ho Chi Minh City FCHo Chi Minh CityThong Nhat16,000VL1 (12th)
Saigon FCVL1 (5th)
Sanna Khanh Hoa BVNKhanh Hoa19 August25,000VL1 (6th)
Nam Dinh FCNam DinhThien Truong30,000 VL2 (1st)
Song Lam Nghe AnNghe AnVinh18,000VL1 (8th)
Quang Nam FCQuang NamTam Ky15,000VL1 (1st)
Than Quang NinhQuang NinhCam Pha20,000VL1 (4th)
FLC Thanh HoaThanh HoaThanh Hoa12,000VL1 (2nd)

Personnel and kits

Note: Flags indicate national team as has been defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

TeamHead CoachCaptainKit manufacturer
Becamex Binh Duong Trần Minh Chiến Nguyễn Anh Đức Kappa
XSKT Cantho Vũ Quang Bảo Tô Vĩnh Lợi KeepDri
SHB Danang Nguyễn Minh Phương Do MerloMade by club
Hoang Anh Gia Lai Dương Minh Ninh Lương Xuân Trường Mizuno
Haiphong FC Trương Việt Hoàng Lê Văn Phú Mitre
Hanoi FC Chu Đình Nghiêm Nguyễn Văn Quyết Kappa
Ho Chi Minh City FC Toshiya Miura Trương Đình Luật Mizuno
Saigon FC Nguyễn Thành Công Nguyễn Ngọc Duy Kami
Sanna Khanh Hoa BVN Võ Đình Tân Chaher ZarourMade by club
Nam Dinh FC Nguyễn Văn Sỹ Nguyễn Hữu Định VNA Sport
Song Lam Nghe An Nguyễn Đức Thắng Trần Nguyên Mạnh Mitre
Quang Nam FC Hoàng Văn Phúc Đinh Thanh Trung Jogarbola
Than Quang Ninh Phan Thanh Hùng Huỳnh Tuấn Linh Joma
FLC Thanh Hoa Nguyễn Đức Thắng Pape Omar Faye Mitre

Managerial changes

TeamOutgoing managerManner of departureDate of vacancyPositionIncoming managerDate of appointment
FLC Thanh Hoa Ljupko PetrovićResigned28 November 2017[5]Pre-season Marian Mihail15 December 2017[6]
SHB Danang Le Huynh Duc25 November 2017 Nguyen Minh Phuong28 December 2017[7]
XSKT Cantho Vu Quang BaoSacked25 November 2017 Đinh Hồng Vinh25 December 2017[8]
Saigon FC Nguyen Duc ThangOut of contract31 January 2018[9] Phan Van Tai Em3 April 2018[10]
FLC Thanh Hoa Marian MihailMutual consent7 April 20187th Hoang Thanh Tung7 April 2018[11]
FLC Thanh Hoa Hoang Thanh TungDemote3 May 20187th Nguyen Duc Thang3 May 2018[12]
Saigon FC Phan Van Tai EmResigned28 June 201816th Nguyen Thanh Cong29 June 2018
XSKT Cantho Dinh Hong Vinh?26 July 201820th Vu Quang Bao31 July 2018

Foreign players

ClubPlayer 1Player 2AFC PlayerNaturalised Vietnamese PlayerFormer Players 1
Becamex Binh Duong Chinedu Udoka Ali Rabo Eyerakpo Maxwell Romario Kortzorg
Alexandros Tanidis
XSKT Cantho Wander Luiz Patiyo Tambwe Dio Preye Rod Dyachenko
SHB Danang Kouassi Yao Hermann Louis Epassi Gastón Merlo Diogo Pereira
Hoang Anh Gia Lai Josip Zeba Osmar Kim Jin-seo
Rimario Gordon
Haiphong FC Diego Fagan Errol Stevens Issifu Ansah
Hanoi FC Moses Oloya Oseni Ganiyu Samson Kayode
Ho Chi Minh City FC Matías Jadue Marclei Kesley Alves Gustavo INJ
Paulo Tavares
Gonzalo Marronkle
Saigon FC Dominique Da Sylva Marvin Ogunjimi Geoffrey Kizito Dugary Ndabashinze
Lê Văn Tân
Sanna Khanh Hoa BVN Chaher Zarour Youssouf Touré
Nam Dinh FC Romario Kortzorg Diogo Pereira Theophilus Esele Alex Rafael
Neil Benjamin
Henry Shackiel
Song Lam Nghe An Michael Olaha Jermie Lynch Osmar
Quang Nam FC Douglas Tardin Warley Oliveira Thiago Papel Wander Luiz
Claudecir INJ
Nguyễn Trung Đại Dương
Than Quang Ninh Eydison Joel Vinicius Geoffrey Kizito
FLC Thanh Hoa Pape Omar Faye Rimario Gordon Danny van Bakel Ryutaro Karube
Edward Ofere
  • ^1 Foreign players who left their clubs after first leg or be replaced because of injuries.
  • ^INJ Player withdrew from the squad due to an injury.

Standings

League table

PosTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPtsQualification or relegation
1Hanoi FC (C)2620427230+4264Qualification for the
AFC Champions League Preliminary Round 2[a]
2FLC Thanh Hoa2613764329+1446
3Sanna Khanh Hoa BVN (Q)26111053327+643Qualification to
Mekong Club Championship
4Song Lam Nghe An2612683832+642
5Than Quang Ninh269894039+135
6Haiphong FC2697102626034
7Becamex Binh Duong[b] (Q)2671273936+333Qualification to
AFC Cup Group Stage
8Saigon FC2694133640−431
9SHB Danang2687113849−1131
10Hoang Anh Gia Lai2687114153−1231
11Quang Nam FC2671093745−831
12Ho Chi Minh City FC2676133644−827
13Nam Dinh FC (O)2659123345−1224Qualification to Relegation Play-off
14XSKT Cantho (R)2649132643−1721Relegation to V.League 2
Source: vnleague.com
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Head-to-head points; 3) Head-to-head goal difference; 4) Head-to-head goals scored; 5) Head-to-head away goals scored; 6) Goal difference; 7) Goals scored; 8) Away goals scored; 9) Play-off (Only to decide champions, runners-up, third placed and relegation spots); 10) Drawing of lots (Criteria 2 to 5 only applies after the conclusion of round 13)
(C) Champions; (O) Play-off winners; (Q) Qualified for the phase indicated; (R) Relegated
Notes:

Positions by round

This table lists the positions of teams after each week of matches. In order to preserve the chronological evolution, any postponed matches are not included to the round at which they were originally scheduled, but added to the full round they were played immediately afterwards. For example, if a match is scheduled for matchday 13, but then postponed and played between days 16 and 17, it will be added to the standings for day 16.

Team ╲ Round1234567891011121314151617181920212223242526
Becamex Binh Duong634899433334468991087886697
FLC Thanh Hoa959766758991088523334343322
Hanoi FC21211111111111111111111111
Haiphong FC1311611131067566353457778978786
Hoang Anh Gia Lai571191189974467976566679109710
Ho Chi Minh City FC12131064481111111111111314131414111112119111212
Nam Dinh FC710141414141414141414141414131213131213131313131313
Quang Nam FC485127710109757656788996678611
Saigon FC3913131213121212131312131212141212141211121212108
Sanna Khanh Hoa BVN104333334668534332222222233
Song Lam Nghe An11141210101213131312121312111086553434444
SHB Danang14674811118101010897910109101010101110119
Than Quang Ninh12122222222222244445555555
XSKT Cantho81285555645781010111111111314141414141414
Winner; Champions League
Relegation play-off
Relegate to V.League 2
Source: Table by round (in Vietnamese)

Results

Home \ AwayBBDFTHHANHPGHGLHCMNDIQNMSGNSKHSNASDNTQNXCT
Becamex Binh Duong3–31–12–14–11–12–13–15–10–31–24–11–11–0
FLC Thanh Hoa3–12–32–00–11–02–25–01–11–01–01–01–11–1
Hanoi FC2–04–31–05–06–33–32–11–14–02–05–24–13–0
Haiphong FC1–12–01–01–12–01–10–21–03–02–33–20–10–1
Hoang Anh Gia Lai0–00–33–50–02–23–22–33–22–41–02–04–03–1
Ho Chi Minh City FC1–11–21–40–15–31–20–05–01–00–24–22–13–3
Nam Dinh FC2–11–10–20–10–21–31–11–01–22–34–21–10–0
Quang Nam FC4–41–00–11–12–22–15–21–10–01–12–22–31–0
Saigon FC2–00–15–20–13–11–21–04–11–12–11–01–21–2
Sanna Khanh Hoa BVN1–13–11–10–01–12–02–22–22–11–20–01–02–1
Song Lam Nghe An0–00–11–21–03–11–00–13–20–13–12–21–0
SHB Danang0–03–30–42–12–13–04–22–13–20–02–23–22–1
Than Quang Ninh1–11–31–23–33–01–01–03–01–21–22–21–05–1
XSKT Cantho2–10–10–32–02–21–11–11–21–31–23–30–01–1
Source: [citation needed]
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

Play-off match

The team finishing 13th faced the runner-up of 2018 V.League 2.

Nam Dinh FC won the match and would remain in the 2019 V.League 1.

Nam Dinh FC0–0Hanoi II
VPF
Penalties
5-3
Attendance: 9,000
Referee: Ngo Duy Lan

Attendances

As of 8 October 2018

By club

PosTeamTotalHighLowAverageChange
1Nam Dinh FC166,00022,000013,833+93.0%
2Hanoi FC119,50020,0002,0009,192+48.4%
3Hoang Anh Gia Lai104,50012,0004,0008,038−4.1%
4FLC Thanh Hoa96,00013,0001,0007,385−20.0%
5Haiphong FC82,00021,0002,0006,308−14.6%
6Sanna Khanh Hoa BVN81,00015,0002,0006,231+26.6%
7SHB Danang79,00013,0003,0006,077−24.8%
8Quang Nam FC67,00012,0001,0005,154−19.8%
9Song Lam Nghe An66,50010,0001,5005,115+19.8%
10Than Quang Ninh64,0008,0002,0004,923−28.1%
11XSKT Cantho63,80012,0001,5004,908+140.8%
12Becamex Binh Duong58,00018,0001,5004,462+28.9%
13Ho Chi Minh City FC55,00012,0002,0004,231−15.4%
14Saigon FC44,50012,0001,0003,423+1.1%
League total1,139,80022,0001,0006,263+12.0%

Updated to games played on complete
Source: Vietnam Professional Football
Notes:
Teams played previous season in V.League 2

By round

2018 V.League 1 Attendance
RoundTotalGamesAvg. Per Game
Round 178,000711,143
Round 271,000710,143
Round 374,000710,571
Round 458,00078,286
Round 572,000710,286
Round 651,50077,357
Round 742,00076,000
Round 850,00077,143
Round 946,00076,571
Round 1042,50076,071
Round 1142,00076,000
Round 1238,20075,457
Round 1354,00077,714
Round 1433,00074,714
Round 1528,00074,000
Round 1638,00075,429
Round 1729,10074,157
Round 1834,50074,929
Round 1927,00073,857
Round 2024,00073,429
Round 2149,50077,071
Round 2234,50074,929
Round 2324,00073,429
Round 2431,00074,429
Round 2532,50074,643
Round 2635,50075,071
Total1,139,8001826,263

Highest attendances

RankHome teamScoreAway teamAttendanceDateStadium
1Nam Dinh FC0–0XSKT Cantho22,00011 March 2018 (2018-03-11)Thien Truong Stadium
2Haiphong FC1–1Hoang Anh Gia Lai21,00017 March 2018 (2018-03-17)Lach Tray Stadium
3Hanoi FC5–0Hoang Anh Gia Lai20,0005 April 2018 (2018-04-05)Hang Day Stadium
4Becamex Binh Duong3–3FLC Thanh Hoa18,00015 April 2018 (2018-04-15)Go Dau Stadium
5Nam Dinh FC0–1Haiphong FC17,00022 March 2018 (2018-03-22)Thien Truong Stadium
0–2Hoang Anh Gia Lai28 September 2018 (2018-09-28)

Season statistics

Top assists

As of 20 September 2018 [15]
RankPlayerClubAssists
1 Nghiem Xuan TuThan Quang Ninh15
2 Nguyen Van QuyetHanoi FC9
3 Do Hung DungHanoi FC8
Tran Phi SonHo Chi Minh City FC
5 Ho Khac NgocSong Lam Nghe An7
To Van VuBecamex Binh Duong
Le Tan TaiBecamex Binh Duong
Tran Van KienHanoi FC
9 Nguyen Quang HaiHanoi FC6
Luong Xuan TruongHoang Anh Gia Lai

Own goals

PlayerClubAgainstRound
Pham Van ThuanNam Dinh FCHo Chi Minh City FC5
Ho Tan TaiBecamex Binh DuongFLC Thanh Hoa
Thiago PapelQuang Nam FCBecamex Binh Duong7
Trinh Van LoiHaiphong FCThan Quang Ninh10
Michael OlahaSong Lam Nghe AnSHB Danang11
Nguyen Thanh BinhSHB DanangSong Lam Nghe An22

Hat-tricks

PlayerForAgainstResultDateRound
Oseni GaniyuHanoi FCSHB Danang4–0(A)14 April 2018 (2018-04-14)5
Ha Minh TuanQuang Nam FCNam Dinh FC5–2(H)26 May 2018 (2018-05-26)9
Nguyen Tien Linh 4Becamex Binh DuongSaigon FC5–1(H)29 May 2018 (2018-05-29)10
EydisonThan Quang NinhHoang Anh Gia Lai3–0(H)9 June 2018 (2018-06-09)12
Dominique Da Sylva 4Saigon FCHanoi FC5–2(H)17 June 2018 (2018-06-17)14
Hoang Vu Samson 4Hanoi FCHo Chi Minh City FC6–3(H)8 July 2018 (2018-07-08)18
Dinh Thanh TrungQuang Nam FCBecamex Binh Duong4–4(H)
Nguyen Tien LinhBecamex Binh DuongQuang Nam FC4–4(A)
Matías JadueHo Chi Minh City FCSHB Danang4–2(H)14 July 2018 (2018-07-14)19
Rimario GordonFLC Thanh HoaHoang Anh Gia Lai3–0(A)9 September 2018 (2018-09-09)21
Nguyen Hai AnhHo Chi Minh City FCSaigon FC5–0(H)19 September 2018 (2018-09-19)23
  • Note:

4: scored 4 goals; (H) – Home ; (A) – Away

Clean sheets

RankPlayerClubClean sheets
1 Nguyen Van CongHanoi FC8
2 Dang Van LamHaiphong FC7
3 Nguyen Tuan ManhSanna Khanh Hoa BVN6
Huynh Tuan LinhThan Quang Ninh
5 Pham Van CuongQuang Nam FC5

Awards

Monthly awards

MonthClub of the MonthManager of the MonthPlayer of the MonthGoal of the MonthReferences
ClubManagerClubPlayerClubPlayerClub
MarchThan Quang Ninh Phan Thanh HungThan Quang Ninh EydisonThan Quang Ninh Luong Xuan TruongHoang Anh Gia Lai[16]
AprilHanoi FC Chu Dinh NghiemHanoi FC Oseni GaniyuHanoi FC Ha Duc ChinhSHB Danang[17]
MayHanoi Tran Minh ChienBecamex Binh Duong Nguyen Tien LinhBecamex Binh Duong Nguyen Cong PhuongHoang Anh Gia Lai
JuneHanoi Nguyen Duc ThangFLC Thanh Hoa Nguyen Quang HaiHanoi FC Tran Minh PhuongHoang Anh Gia Lai

Annual awards

AwardWinnerClub
V.League 1 Manager of the Season Chu Dinh Nghiem[18]Hanoi FC
V.League 1 Player of the Season Nguyen Van Quyet[18]Hanoi FC
V.League 1 Top Goalscorer Ganiyu Oseni[18]Hanoi FC
V.League 1 Young Player of the Year Nguyen Quang Hai[19]Hanoi FC
V.League 1 Referee of the Year Ngo Duy Lan[19]
V.League 1 Assistant Referee of the Year Phạm Manh Long[19]

Team of the Year

VPF Team of the Year[19]
Goalkeeper Dang Van Lam (Haiphong FC)
Defence Vu Van Thanh

(Hoang Anh Gia Lai)

Do Duy Manh

(Hanoi FC)

Chaher Zarour

(Sanna Khanh Hoa BVN)

Doan Van Hau

(Hanoi FC)

Midfield Nguyen Quang Hai

(Hanoi FC)

Ngo Hoang Thinh

(FLC Thanh Hoa)

Moses Oloya

(Hanoi FC)

Nghiem Xuan Tu

(Than Quang Ninh)

Attack Nguyen Cong Phuong

(Hoang Anh Gia Lai)

Nguyen Van Quyet

(Hanoi FC)

References