HANOI: Vietnam became the first country in Southeast Asia to resume competitive football with spectators with the first round of the 2020 national tournament being held over the weekend, the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) said on its official website on May 25, reported Vietnam News Agency (VNA).
Competitive action returned to Vietnam at the weekend with the 2020 Vietnamese Cup – Bamboo Airways 2020 – getting underway as the Southeast Asian nation became the first in ASEAN to resume after the COVID-19 enforced hiatus, the AFC said.
While a number of top-flight clubs, including holders Hanoi FC, will not join until the second round, the tournament began on May 23 with Nam Dinh running out 2-0 winners over Hoang Anh Gia Lai in a battle of V.League 1 sides, it noted.
Another V.League 1 team, Sai Gon, have already fallen to second-tier opposition, though, as they suffered a 2-1 loss against Ba Ria Vung Tau on May 24.
— BERNAMA
