Five games into the V.League season and it’s Hai Phong who lead the way after they defeated bottom team Saigon 3-1 on Saturday to move three points clear.

Becamex Binh Duong are second after edging Nam Dinh 1-0, while Hanoi FC dropped to third following a 2-1 loss at Da Nang. 

Ho Chi Minh City ended a run of three successive draws to beat Thanh Hoa 1-0 for their first win of the season, with the game between Binh Dinh and Hoang Anh Gia Lai ending 1-1.

Malaysia Super League pacesetters Johor Darul Ta’zim drew 1-1 with Melaka United on Saturday, dropping points for only the second time this season as they saw their lead cut to just a point.

Negeri Sembilan missed out on the chance to move level on points with them, however, as they were beaten 1-0 by Sabah, who subsequently leapfrogged them into second. 

And Terengganu are up to fifth after beating second-from-bottom Pahang 2-1 with what was the struggling side’s third defeat in a row.

There was no shortage of drama in the President’s Cup last eight match-ups over the weekend as three of the four games were decided by penalties. 

On Friday, PSS Sleman overcame Persib Bandung 4-2 from the spot after a 1-1 draw, before Arema edged Barito Putera 5-4 on penalties following a goalless 120 minutes.

The tension was raised a notch on Saturday when PSIS Semarang were 9-8 winners over Bhayangkara after a 1-1 draw as yet another game went to penalties. 

Borneo Samarinda did, however, manage to avoid making it four from four after they saw off PSM Makassar 2-1 on Sunday. 

The semi-finals will take place over two legs on Thursday and Monday, with PSIS Semarang facing Arema and PSS Sleman taking on Borneo.

After losing to Albirex Niigata (S) last weekend, Lion City Sailors have produced an emphatic response, beating Young Lions 5-1 on Wednesday and then Tanjong Pagar 6-0 on Sunday.

Their second win of the week, which saw Gabriel Quak and Diego Lopes net doubles, took them nine points clear of Albirex although their title rivals have two games in hand. 

The other game in Singapore saw Geylang International beat Balestier Khalsa 2-0.

Table-toppers Preah Khan Reach Svay Rieng were not in action over the weekend, allowing Boeung Ket to cut their lead to six points following a thrilling 4-3 win over National Defense.

The other game in Cambodia also featured plenty of goals as bottom side Kiriving Sok Sen Chey played out a 3-3 draw against Angkor Tiger.