Hoang Anh Gia Lai dropped to the relegation zone again after losing 0-2 to hosts Da Nang in the 18th round of the V-League at the Chi Lang Stadium Thursday.
Da Nang took the lead in the ninth minute when newly signed Jamaican striker Sean Fraser scored with a shot from outside the box after shrugging off Hoang Anh Gia Lai’s feeble defense.
In the second half Hoang Anh Gia Lai fielded Cong Phuong and Hoang Thien, but the two strikers could not get past the hosts’ solid defense.
In the 84th minute Fraser scored his second goal with a header.
Hoang Anh Gia Lai have dropped to 13th place with 13 points, ahead of only Dong Nai who also have 13 points.
In the 17th round, they had beaten a stronger Becamex Binh Duong 2-1, their first victory in 11 roundsn to climb out of the relegation zone.
In the next round, they visit Cam Phat Stadium to play Quang Ninh.
At the business end of the table, Becamex Binh Duong lead with 35 points after defeating Quang Ninh 1-0, pushing Thanh Hoa to second place a point behind after losing to Hanoi T&T 1-4.
The 19th round will be played on August 1-2.