U.S. international Nguyen close to Vietnam move

Vietnamese-American Lee Nguyen is close to signing with former V-League champions Hoang Anh Gia Lai (HAGL) following his emphatic hat trick in a friendly this week.

Nguyen is currently on trials at the Gia Lai club with technical director Nguyen Van Vinh assessing his ability to carry the club challenge next season.

And the forward certainly did not disappoint when he blasted in the three goals for a 5-1 win over Binh Dinh.

"I am very pleased with Nguyen's excellent performance," said Van Vinh. "He's not exceptionally strong, but he is technically skilful, creative and accurate. He is powerful enough with both legs and can get round an opponent wonderfully. He can play well as a left winger or a striker. He can become a good playmaker who can launch dangerous attacks and create scoring chances. One of the goals he scored was from a distance."

Nguyen currently plays for Randers FC in Denmark and had a previous stint with PSV Eindhoven in 2005.

He had also picked up international caps with the U.S. Under-20 team in the World Championships in the Netherlands.

In June of 2007, he lined up for the U.S. senior national team in a win over China in a friendly in San Jose, Calif.

"Playing in the V-League is a dream come true for me," Nguyen said. "I hope everything will be alright." -- Goal.com