Lionel Messi added four more goals to his soaring early season tally as a much-changed Barcelona maintained their 100 percent start to La Liga by routing Eibar 6-1 on Tuesday. Barcelona's Lionel Messi (L) vies with Eibar's David Junca during their match in Barcelona on September 19, 2017 Paulinho and Denis Suarez also netted for the second consecutive game as Barca stretched their lead at the top of La Liga to seven points over Real Madrid, who host Real Betis on Wednesday. "That Messi scored four goals now isn't news," said Barca boss Ernesto Valverde after the Argentine's 43rd career hat-trick. "He has done it so many nights, in so many games. To keep repeating it is the most difficult thing. "He is an extraordinary player. I have run out of words for him." Messi played in a more central … [Read more...]

Vietnam’s swimming and athletic teams on September 19 pocketed four more gold medals at the 9th ASEAN Para Games held in Malaysia. Vietnamese swimmer Vo Thanh Tung at the 2014 Asian Para Games Swimmer Vo Thanh Tung brought home a gold medal in the men’s 200m freestyle event for athletes with physical disability category of S5, clocking at 2’59”17. Tung’s teammates Tran Quoc Phi bagged a gold medal in the men’s S5 100m freestyle event and Nguyen Thanh Trung secured another gold in the men’s SB4 100m breaststroke category. The fourth gold medal came to Trinh Cong Luan in the men’s discus throw F56. By the morning of September 19, Vietnam had obtained a total of 41 medals, including 12 golds, 15 silvers and 14 bronzes, ranking third in the medal tally. Indonesia topped the tally with 30 gold, 13 silver and 12 bronze medals, followed by the host Malaysia which achieved … [Read more...]

Known for their beautiful mountainous areas and terraced rice fields, Mu Cang Chai in northern Yen Bai province and Sapa in nearby Lao Cai province are becoming even more attractive thanks to festivals and sport activities promoting the local tourism sectors. Vietnam’s largest paragliding festival will take place from September 22 to 24 at Khau Pha Mountain Pass in Mu Cang Chai.  With the theme “Flying Over Ripening Rice Fields”, the festival is expected to attract thousands of visitors. The festival will feature paragliding and competitions. Lessons from experienced pilots will be given to tourists who wish to try the sport.  There will be 50 paired flights provided to visitors during the three days of the festival. Registrations are needed in advance, with a fee of VND2 million ($88) applying. Khau Pha Mountain Pass, about 1,200 meters above sea level, provides … [Read more...]

VietNamNet Bridge – Hoang Anh Gia Lai (HAGL) lost to bottom-ranked team Long An 1-2 on their home soil in the 18th round of the national premier league yesterday. Long An opened their account thanks to HAGL’s Marcelino Motta Henrique, who scored an own goal in the ninth minute. Although goalkeeper To Vinh Loi leapt to prevent it, he was unable to save the goal. Hoang Anh Gia Lai and Long An’s players seen in the national premier league yesterday. — Photo zing.vn In the 53rd minute, Wander Luiz Queiroz doubled the score to 2-0 for Long An. HAGL attacked constantly to seek goals, and in the 60th minute, Tran Minh Vuong narrowed the gap to 1-2. In the other matches played yesterday, Quang Nam beat Thanh Hoa 3-2, Song Lam Nghe An crushed Da Nang 1-0, and Sai Gon was tied in a goalless draw with Quang Ninh … [Read more...]

SINGAPORE: Ferrari's Sebastian Vettel and Kimi Raikkonen escaped punishment over a first-corner crash at the Singapore Grand Prix which took out four cars on Sunday (Sep 17). Ferrari's Sebastian Vettel and Kimi Raikkonen escaped punishment over a first-corner crash at the Singapore Grand Prix. (MANAN VATSYAYANA/AFP) Race stewards said nobody was wholly to blame for the accident, which happened when Red Bull's Max Verstappen was caught between Vettel and Raikkonen at the start. All three cars were forced out immediately and the crash also ended the race of McLaren's Fernando Alonso, who was heavily shunted and had to retire a few laps later. "The stewards found that no driver was wholly or predominantly responsible and therefore we take no further action," officials said after an … [Read more...]

MANCHESTER: Romelu Lukaku showed little room for sentiment on Sunday (Sep 17), scoring one and creating another as Manchester United ran out ultimately comfortable 4-0 winners over his former club Everton to ruin Wayne Rooney's Old Trafford return. Manchester United's Romelu Lukaku (right) attempts a shot at goal during the English Premier League football match against Everton. (Photo source: AP /Rui Vieira) Right-back Antonio Valencia gave United an early lead with a spectacular half-volley before late goals from midfielder Henrikh Mkhitaryan - set up by Lukaku just before he got on the scoresheet himself - and an Anthony Martial penalty sealed the win. With United's rivals Manchester City having clinched a dominant 6-0 victory over Watford 24 hours earlier there was an expectation from United fans for Jose Mourinho's … [Read more...]

Mitsubishi and Bitexco will once again host the city’s only stair climbing race, “HCMC SKYRUN” on October 29. Runners will start at the tower’s ground floor lobby and ascend to its observation deck on the 49th floor. The race involves teams of four runners, which may have both male and female runners who are at least 18 years old in the Full and Team Challenge category and 12 years old in the Fun Climb category. Registrations are now open, giving runners the chance to secure their spot on the starting line for the October 29 race, with fees starting from VND500,000 ($20).  The deadline for online registrations is October 15 or when the quota for registrations is full. Organizers will announce the race day schedule soon after registrations close. The event is expected to start at 7.30am and finish by 12.30pm. HCMC SKYRUN was first held in 2011 by Sporting Republic. … [Read more...]

Quang Nam came from behind to beat leaders FLC Thanh Hoa with a score of 3-2 in the 18th round of the V-League 2017 on September 17, thus reclaiming third-place position from Saigon, who played out a goalless draw against Quang Ninh Coal in another game on Sunday. Captain Thanh Trung contributes a goal and an assist in Quang Nam's victory.  Returning to their home field after an away defeat to Saigon in the previous round, manager Petrovic and his players were determined to secure a win over Quang Nam in order to maintain a safe gap over the chasing pack.  However, the reigning V-League runners-up’s ambition was dealt a heavy blow by a resilient and determined Quang Nam. Playing with a strong attacking trio, including Uche, Van Thang and Omar, FLC Thanh Hoa went ahead after only 15 minutes, as Pape Omar successfully converted Iheruome Uche’s smart cross to score the opener for the home side. … [Read more...]

VietNamNet Bridge – Thang Long Warriors crushed Danang Dragons 79-64 in the Viet Nam Basketball Association (VBA) League at the Military Zone 5 Gymnasium in Da Nang City yesterday. Thang Long Warriors players perform in the match against Danang Dragons at the VBA League yesterday. — Photo courtesy of VBA The Dragons controlled the game in the first quarter with Rudolphe Joly showing excellent form in both attack and defence. Joly scored 10 points and five rebounds to help the hosts take 14-12 lead. In the second quarter, Joly continued to shine in the match. He scored points, and helped his teammates Le Phuoc Thang and Tim Waale excel with his intelligent passes. On the Warriors’ side, To Quang Trung also played prominently and scored 11 points. Trung had three three-point throws in this quarter. Trung’s performance … [Read more...]

VietNamNet Bridge – Jiung Jang of Korail Cycle Team has won the VTV International Cycling Tournament, or Ton Hoa Sen Cup, which wrapped up yesterday. Cyclists compete in the last stage of the VTV International Cycling Tournament yesterday. — Photo tinthethao.com.vn Jang won the event’s yellow jersey with the best time of 39:04.46 after 14 stages, followed by Javier Sarda Perez of Bike Life VDC and Nguyen Truong Tai of VUS-HCM City. Jang walked away with a bonus of VND120 million (US$5,200). Le Van Duan of VUS-HCM City won the green jersey as the best sprinter with 206 points. Jan Paul Morales of Philippine Navy Standard Insurance and Huynh Thanh Tung of Military Zone 7 were the runners-up. The red jersey of the King of Mountain went to Junrey Navarra of CCN Cycling Team, with 63 points. Ngo Van Phuong of Ha … [Read more...]