DA LAT, Vietnam (Interstat) — Lam Dong lost 2-1 to visiting PVF-CAND in V.League 2 play at Lam Dong Sport Center on Tuesday, as Tran Dinh Tien scored twice for the visitors and Lam Dong’s late reply was not enough. PVF-CAND led from the first half and protected its advantage after the break to take all three points from the home side. The match was played in Da Lat, with Lam Dong as the home team and PVF-CAND as the visiting side.

Tran opened the scoring in the 27th minute and added a second in the 34th, giving PVF-CAND a 2-0 lead before halftime. He was the visitors’ top star with a 90-minute, two-goal statline. Lam Dong cut the deficit in the 77th minute when Le A.T. scored, and the key-performance summary listed Toan Le Anh with a 90-minute, one-goal statline. Lam Dong pushed for a second goal over the final stretch, but PVF-CAND kept the home side from finding an equalizer. The visitors’ defense held through the closing minutes to preserve the one-goal margin.

The win moved PVF-CAND to 3 wins, 1 loss and 1 draw in the competition. Lam Dong fell to 1 win and 4 losses. Across all competitions, PVF-CAND is now 4 wins, 1 loss and 1 draw, while Lam Dong is 1 win and 5 losses. The result continued a difficult run for Lam Dong and gave PVF-CAND another positive result in league play. PVF-CAND’s win came after it built a two-goal advantage in the first half and held off Lam Dong’s late push. PVF-CAND has now earned a result in several recent competition matches, while Lam Dong remains in search of consistent form.

PVF-CAND’s previous results this season included a 3-2 win at Xuan Thien Phu Tho, a 1-1 home draw with Hung Yen, a 4-1 loss at Khanh Hoa, a 4-1 home win over Hue and a 2-1 home win over Long An. Those results helped the visitors arrive with momentum, and Tran’s first-half brace provided the separation in Da Lat. PVF-CAND’s attack produced the decisive moments early, while its defense did enough after Lam Dong’s goal to close out the match. The visitors’ record in the competition now stands at 3 wins, 1 loss and 1 draw after the Tuesday result.

Lam Dong’s earlier results this season included a 4-0 loss at CLB Quy Nhon United, a 3-0 home win over Van Hien, a 3-1 loss at Binh Duong, a 2-0 home loss to Song Lam Nghe An and a 1-0 home loss to Ho Chi Minh. The home side had conceded first in several of those matches, and Tuesday followed a similar pattern once Tran struck in the first half. Lam Dong’s goal in the 77th minute gave the home crowd hope, but the equalizer did not come. The home side’s competition record is now 1 win and 4 losses, and its all-competitions mark is 1 win and 5 losses.

PVF-CAND’s upcoming schedule includes matches against Ho Chi Minh, Binh Duong, Quang Ninh, Thep Can Tho, Van Vien, Hue, Thai Nguyen, CLB Quy Nhon United and CLB Dong Thap. Lam Dong’s next stretch includes Quang Ninh, Thep Can Tho, Khanh Hoa, CLB Dong Thap, CLB Xuan Thien Phu Tho, Long An, Hung Yen, Hue and Thai Nguyen. Both clubs will continue V.League 2 play with little turnaround before their next fixtures. PVF-CAND will look to build on the road win, while Lam Dong will seek a response in its next league match.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of Lam Dong 2, PVF-CAND 2. Interstat’s ELO system had projected Lam Dong with a 57.4 percent probability to win.