Defeating Hanoi Club, The Cong Viettel Moves to Second Place in the V-League Table

Round 14 of the V-League saw two high-stakes fixtures where The Cong Viettel secured a 1-0 victory over Hanoi FC in the capital city derby, and Ho Chi Minh City Police unexpectedly suffered a 0-1 defeat against Becamex Binh Duong on their own turf.

At Hang Day Stadium, The Cong Viettel started proactively against Hanoi FC. In the very first minute, Van Khang pushed the ball forward for Lucao to threaten the penalty area, forcing Duy Manh to intervene promptly. The pressure from the army team persisted with dangerous set-piece situations.

In the 3rd minute, from a corner kick, Huu Thang took a shot that set up Colonna for a dangerous header, forcing goalkeeper Van Chuan to make a difficult save.

Hanoi FC gradually regained their footing after the first 10 minutes. In the 9th minute, Hoang Hen delivered an awkward corner kick that forced Van Viet to punch the ball clear. However, the match proceeded at a high tempo with fierce midfield battles. In the 25th minute, Pedro broke free down the left flank and delivered a favorable cross, but Van Khang rushed in and chested the ball over the crossbar.

The turning point came in the 40th minute. Van Khang dribbled on the left wing and passed back to the second line. Huu Thang unleashed a skillful long-range shot from outside the box, the ball taking a dangerous trajectory to beat Van Chuan, opening the scoring for The Cong Viettel. Just minutes before, Lucao had also curled a shot that narrowly missed the post. The first half concluded with a slender advantage for the home team.

In the second half, Hanoi FC strengthened their attack by introducing Dau Toan and Passira. The purple-shirted team pushed their formation higher but encountered The Cong Viettel's tight defensive system. In the 69th minute, Van Quyet delivered a clever flick for Passira to head quickly, but the ball found the post to the dismay of the away fans.

The drama escalated in the 79th minute. Frustrated by the home team's stalemate, Passira lost his composure, believing a The Cong Viettel player was time-wasting. The Brazilian forward dragged a grounded opponent and immediately received a direct red card from the Thai referee.

Playing with ten men for the final 10+ minutes (including 6 minutes of stoppage time), Hanoi FC launched an all-out offensive but could not penetrate the host's solid defense. In the end, The Cong Viettel secured a resilient 1-0 victory.

In the simultaneous match, Ho Chi Minh City Police hosted Becamex Binh Duong with both sides eager for points to improve their standings. The first half was balanced with similar ball possession. Endrick from the home team forced a long-range save from goalkeeper Minh Toan, before missing a regrettable chance early in the second half.

The match flow was frequently interrupted by injuries. The pivotal moment arrived in the 67th minute when the referee consulted VAR for a potential handball in the box. A penalty was awarded to Becamex Binh Duong. From the spot, Viet Cuong coolly beat the home goalkeeper, opening a 1-0 lead in the 68th minute.

In the final 15 minutes, Ho Chi Minh City Police pushed forward for an equalizer. Khoa Ngo had a one-on-one opportunity but failed to convert. Despite creating significant pressure, the home side was powerless against their opponent's resilient defense. The final whistle confirmed a narrow 1-0 victory for Becamex Binh Duong.