Wigan Athletic 0 v Manchester City 1: match report

WIGAN ATHLETIC 0 - 1 MANCHESTER CITY

Monday, January 16 20:00

Premier League

DW Stadium

Read a full match report of the Premier League game between Wigan Athletic and Manchester at DW Stadium on Monday Jan 16, 2012.

Winner: Edin Dezko's goal was enough to ensure Manchester City took three points against Wigan Photo: ACTION IMAGES

This was winning ugly. This was the type of gritty, defensively resolute display that title campaigns are built on. If Manchester City’s players find themselves on an open-top bus in May with the Premier League trophy on the dashboard and a song on their lips, they will look back warmly on events here not for aesthetic reasons but for three Premier League points and one of the psychological variety.

City had found themselves assailed with questions in recent weeks, with critics wondering whether they ­possess the stomach for the fight. The league is not the adrenalin dash of a successful Cup run. The league involves relentless endeavour, 38 games of concentration and strong nerves.

The old canard of “how will they cope with a cold January night in Wigan” was thrown at City. And they answered it. Roberto Martínez’s side threw everything at them, particularly late on. They dealt with it. When the excellent Victor Moses started running at them, Joe Hart and Joleon Lescott stood firm.

City’s victory, their first on the road in the league since fireworks were lighting up the sky, was achieved without some famous names, absent through injury, suspension or Africa Cup of Nations’ duty. Missing luminaries from Mario Balotelli to Yaya Touré, Micah Richards to Vincent Kompany, City found inspiration from other quarters.

Edin Dzeko scored, heading in his first goal since that Nov 5 win at Loftus Road. Gareth Barry was outstanding in central midfield, making some crucial interceptions when Wigan attempted to whip up a storm.

Telegraph.co.uk

Defending champs held at home in Vietnam Super League

Song Lam Nghe An players (yellow) mark Nigerian striker Samson Kayode Olaleye of visitors Hanoi T&T in a Super League match in Vinh city Sunday.

Defending Vietnamese Super League champions Song Lam Nghe An were held 2-2 at home by Hanoi T&T in the third round Sunday.

Both teams played fast football from the start, and it was a see-saw contest.

Trinidad & Tobago striker Hector Hughtun Kerin took a Van Hoan throw and scored the opener for the hosts midway through the first half, but the visitors’ Nigerian striker Samson Kayode Olaleye canceled out that goal 10 minutes from halftime.

The two teams continued to battle on level terms through the second half before Cameroonian striker Bebbe Gustave Anicet’s scored SLNA's second goal with a header in the first minute of stoppage time.

SLNA fans were excited thinking a win was in the bag, but less than two minutes later winger Van Quyet snatched a point for the visitors by heading home from a Sy Cuong corner.

In other action, hosts Vicem Hai Phong were held 1-1 at Lach Tray Stadium by Dong Thap. Nigerian striker Felix Gbenga Ajala scored for the visitors two minutes before the break, but Jamaican striker Kavin Elroy Bryan scored the equalizer four minutes before the final whistle.

Ivory Coast striker Sanogo Moussa scored the opener for the visitors Vissai Ninh Binh 15 minutes after the break at Ho Chi Minh City's Thong Nhat Stadium.

Brazilian striker Ricardo Alves Pereira evened the score for hosts Navibank Saigon in the 84th minute before Moussa scored again to grab full points for Ninh Binh .

Earlier, on Saturday, hosts Thanh Hoa beat 2007-08 champs Becamex Binh Duong 2-1 at home.

Saigon FC earned a 2-0 away win over Kienlongbank Kien Giang. Hanoi FC and 2009 champs SHB Da Nang crushed visitors Khanh Hoa and 2003-04 champs Hoang Anh Gia Lai by an identical 4-1 score.

After three rounds, Da Nang are on top with seven points, followed by Hanoi T&T who are also on seven but with an inferior goal difference. Saigon FC, SLNA, and Thanh Hoa in third, fourth and fifth with five points each.

Thanh Nien News

Leaders pay Tet visits

Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong presents gifts to poor families in Tinh Ky, Son Tinh District, Quang Ngai Province. — VNA/VNS Photo Tri Dung

Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong yesterday paid his Tet visit to residents and officials in Quang Ngai Province, offering his wish for a happy new year and success in implementing the province's socio-economic targets.

Speaking to key people and officials in the province, Trong expressed delight for his chance to visit the home province of the late Prime Minister Pham Van Dong.

On this occasion, Trong congratulated the province for its achievement this past year in boosting socio-economic development.

In particular, Dung Quat refinery was put into full... implementation this past year, which contributed a great deal to the area's employment and economic gains.

The province has a per capita GDP of $US1,400 annually, and has made significant progress in building new rural areas, exploiting the potential of sea economy and attracting investment for infrastructure.

After visiting different localities in the province, Trong said along with focusing on achieving economic priorities, the province must also continue working to strengthen party personnel and organisation, prevent moral and political degradation among cadres and consolidate people's confidence. He instructed leaders at all levels to fully implement the resolutions passed at the Party Central Committee's third and fourth plenums.

The General Secretary hoped that the province would contribute to the nation's goals in reducing inflation, stabilising the macro economy, ensuring social protection and restructuring the economy for more sustainable growth.

The Party leader also asked the province to make sure that all residents, especially poor households and revolutionary families, have a prosperous Tet holiday and that no person has to suffer from food shortage.

On the same day, Trong also visited and offered incense at the Memorial Site of the late Prime Minister Pham Van Dong in Duc Tan Commune, Mo Duc District.

Earlier, the Party leader paid a Tet visit to the authorities and people of Hanh Thinh Commune, which leads Nghia Hanh District in building newly-styled rural areas.

On Saturday, General Secretary Trong visited Son Tinh District's Tinh Ky Commune, where 85 per cent of the population lives on aquaculture.

Yesterday, Le Hong Anh, permanent member of the Party Central Committee's Secretariat, visited residents, soldiers and officials of Thua Thien-Hue Province to offer his Tet wishes.

He spoke highly of the efforts the province had made in recent years in urban infrastructure development, three years after the province became a national city. However, the province's economic growth had not reached its full potential and it must make further progress to attract foreign investment and diversify its tourism products.

Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Thien Nhan on the same day visited and offered his Tet wishes to Long An Province. Nhan said its close proximity to HCM City offered some advantages to the province, especially in attracting investors and implementing new technologies. However, the province must have better policies in housing and attracting human resources from other provinces and furthering promoting sustainable practices in agriculture.

vietnamnews.vnagency.com.vn

Overseas Vietnamese welcomed

President Truong Tan Sang watches fish being released at a ceremony at the Ho Chi Minh Memorial Complex in Ha Noi yesterday as part of the Kitchen God Festival, which falls today (on the 23rd day of the 12th lunar month). — VNA/VNS Photo Duong Giang

Despite cold weather and rain, more than 1,000 overseas Vietnamese gathered at a special event at Ba Dinh Square in Ha Noi yesterday evening to celebrate the coming Tet (Lunar New Year) Festival.

The annual Xuan Que Huong (Spring in the Homeland) event is held eight days before Tet to welcome Vietnamese expatriates returning home for their country's biggest festival.

Addressing the event, President Truong Tan Sang said Viet Nam has made important achievements, including economic growth, ensuring social security, keeping social and political order and improving the country's prestige in the international arena, thanks to the efforts and contributions made by the whole nation, including overseas Vietnamese communities.

"The Party and State always affirm that overseas Vietnamese communities are an inseparable part of the Vietnamese nation and always try their best to support Vietnamese expatriates to help develop the economy, stabilise their lives and keep their traditional characteristics," Sang said.

Vietnamese expatriate Nguyen Quoc Trong, a 68-year-old who has lived in France for more than 20 years, said he was really surprised and moved by the programme of performances at the event.

"This is the first time I got to see such a programme. We are really moved by the familiar images of the homeland through songs and videos shown and they make us warm despite the cold weather," he said.

His wife, Nguyen Minh Luan, said participating at the event would make this year's Tet all the more memorable and meaningful.

"I will have lots of things to tell my children and grandchildren in France about the atmosphere of a traditional Tet festival in the homeland," she said.

"It is totally different when celebrating Tet in the homeland. Visiting relatives, famous local landscapes and enjoying traditional food during the festive season is something that can only be done in Viet Nam.

"In France, we often join cultural activities held by the Vietnamese community in France on special occasions such as Independence Day (September 2) or Tet, and this draws the participation of thousands of Vietnamese expatriates and is a good way to help us feel like we are home."

For 20-year-old Nguyen Thuy Hien, an expatriate from Germany, celebrating Tet in the homeland is also a much cherished opportunity.

"Words fail me when trying to express my feelings during my first Tet in Viet Nam, my homeland. I arrived here one week ago and felt the atmosphere of Tet in every corner of the city," she said.

"You can see many quat (kumquat trees) and dao (peach blossom), the symbol of Tet as my mom often told me, being sold along the street... it's a scene you can not see in Germany."

Speaking about their new year's wishes, they all said they hoped Viet Nam would continue to develop and provide a source of pride for all Vietnamese expatriates.

"Particularly, we wish Viet Nam, with contributions from overseas Vietnamese, would quickly overcome the difficulties and challenges of the world economic crisis," Trong said.

Fatherland front

The Vietnam Fatherland Front Central Committee yesterday also hosted a get-together for overseas Vietnamese returning home to celebrate Tet.

President of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Central Committee, Huynh Dam joined officials from the State Commission for Overseas Vietnamese Affairs in welcoming expatriates from countries around the world and wished them a healthy, successful and peaceful New Year.

Dam stressed that the overseas Vietnamese community is an inseparable part of the great national unity bloc, affirming that the Party and State always attached much importance to protecting their rights.

There are an estimated 4 million Vietnamese expatriates around the world.

vietnamnews.vnagency.com.vn

Vietnamese marksman qualifies for 2012 London Olympics

Vietnamese marksman Hoang Xuan Vinh has earned a place in the 2012 London Olympics following outstanding results at the ongoing Asian Shooting Championships in Doha, Qatar.

Vinh, 37, earned 682.4 points, coming in fourth in the men’s 10m air pistol event and making him the first Vietnamese shooter to gain entrance to the Olympic Games.

It was a surprise for the Vietnamese shooting team as experts have high hopes for ASIAD silver medalist Ha Minh Thanh who will compete in the 25m air pistol event on January 17.

At the recent 26th SEA Games in Indonesia, Vinh also won the first gold medal for the Vietnamese shooting team.

So far, seven Vietnamese athletes have qualified for the Olympics.

dtinews.vn

Ha Noi club taste first win in Super League season

Breaking a drought: Xuan Luan of Ha Noi FC (right) vies for the ball against Huu Phat of Khanh Hoa in their Super League clash at Ha Noi's Hang Day Stadium. Ha Noi won 4-1. – VNA/VNS Photo Ngoc Truong

Nigerian striker Anjembe Timothy scored twice from the penalty spot and Dinh Thanh Trung added two more goals to help Ha Noi FC crush Khanh Hoa 4-1 in the Super League on Saturday.

It's the first win for the Hanoian team since the season kicked off two weeks ago.

The team also had the services of top striker Le Cong Vinh who played an important part in the second goal before a two week break for Tet.

Hosting the match at Hang Day Stadium, Ha Noi FC's offensive play encountered a deep and crowded Khanh Hoa defence who frustrated the home team's strikers.

Ha Noi failed to make any serious threat on the Khanh Hoa goal until the 41st minute when Timothy netted from a spot kick.

The goal helped break the deadlock and they added one more before half time.

Newly contracted striker Vinh, who has recently recovered from a knee injury, set up teammate Trung just before the break.

Vinh missed a great opportunity to make it 3-0 in the first minute of the second half, heading Pham Thanh Luong's cross over the bar.

In the 62nd minute, Brazilian Agostinho pulled a goal back for Khanh Hoa with a powerful header.

Ha Noi intentionally slowed the pace of the game with the visitors looking for an equaliser.

But any chances of a comeback were snuffed out by Timothy who successfully dispatched his second penalty of the game in the 80th minute before Trung launched a rocket into the back of the net in the 82nd minute.

Khanh Hoa missed a chance for a consolation in the last minute of the game with Majabvi missing from the spot.

In other games on Saturday, Da Nang demolished Hoang Anh Gia Lai 4-1, while Thanh Hoa edged Binh Duong 2-1.

Sai Gon FC recorded their first victory of the campaign with a 2-0 way win over Kien Giang.

In yesterday's matches, Hai Phong were held to a 1-1 draw by Dong Thap; Song Lam Nghe An drew with Ha Noi T&T 2-2 and Navibank Sai Gon lost 2-1 to Ninh Binh.

vietnamnews.vnagency.com.vn

Ha Long Bay boats do not have to be painted wholly white: authorities

More than 500 tourist boats in Ha Long Bay will be decorated with white details instead of being repainted white totally to “renovate” the site’s tourism sector, the VnExpress newswire quoted a local official as saying Saturday.

Vu Thi Thu Thuy, vice chairwoman of the People’s Committee in the northern province of Quang Ninh made the statement about one week after the committee announced that all the boats will have to be painted white as of this April 30, an order objected to by local businesses, tourists and the public.

According to Thuy, changing the color of the bay’s tourist boats into white was one of the necessary moves to improve local tourism and create a “new face” for Ha Long Bay.

However, the province didn’t mean to set white as a uniform color for local tourist boats, so it didn’t regulate how much white the boats need to be, she said, adding that local businesses can devise their own styles.

Doan Van Dung, chief the Association for Ha Long Tourist Boats, which previously sent a letter to the provincial authorities to express its disagreement on the decision, told VnExpress that the new decision has relieved local businesses from difficulties.

They are now not facing the financial burden of following the authorities’ order, because it would have cost them tens of millions of dong to repaint their boats and been a time consuming process as well, Dung said.

It is not as difficult to repaint just a few details, in terms of cost and time, according to Dung.

“Brown is still the main color; white is only added as a decoration,” he said.

But, Dung also said that since the color of Ha Long Bay’s boats is the image of tourism and the country so every change needs to be considered.

To create a synchronized brand name for the boats, local authorities need to consider more carefully what percentage of a boat needs to be in white, Dung said.

On January 5, the Quang Ninh People’s Committee asked all boats in the bay to be painted white, saying failure to follow the order by April 30 will result in revocation of operating licenses.

Authorities said the move was aimed to tighten government control over tourist transport, and to renovate the image of local tourist boats after the bay was named on the preliminary list of seven new natural wonders of the world by the Switzerland-based New7Wonders Foundation last November.

However, soon after the order was made, local businesses objected to it saying it would cost them too much, while tourists said local authorities should focus on improving services instead of changing the unique brown color of local boats.

By Thanh Nien News