Round 4 of the V-League: Top group shifts, Ninh Binh instills fear across the V-League

Round 4 of the V-League concluded with an exciting derby between Ninh Binh Club and Nam Dinh Club. Due to unexpected events, the top of the table saw significant changes.

Round 4 of the V-League ended with a thrilling derby between Ninh Binh and Thep Xanh Nam Dinh: one side a newly promoted team full of momentum, and the other the reigning champion with two consecutive titles.

Amid the passionate atmosphere in the stands on an early week afternoon, both teams immediately launched attacks on each other's goal right after the kickoff. A surprise unfolded as Ninh Binh scored two quick goals in the first half through Hoang Duc and Thanh Thinh, taking the lead over the defending champions.

After falling behind, Thep Xanh Nam Dinh pushed forward aggressively to seek an equalizer. Numerous scoring chances were created in front of the home goal, but thanks to a brilliant performance by Van Lam and Ninh Binh’s defenders, the newly promoted team’s goal remained intact until the final whistle.

With a 2-0 victory over Thep Xanh Nam Dinh, Ninh Binh became the only team to maintain a perfect winning record after 4 rounds and continued to hold the top spot on the leaderboard, an extremely impressive achievement for a team newly promoted to the V-League this season.

In another highly anticipated Round 4 match on September 21, Hanoi FC and The Cong Viettel treated the capital’s fans to a spectacular football feast, with each team dominating one half. Hanoi FC took an early lead in the first half after captain Van Quyet delivered a perfect assist for Tuan Hai to break the deadlock.

However, The Cong Viettel’s relentless efforts in the second half were rewarded with an equalizer by Khuat Van Khang following a beautifully coordinated play.

Although Hanoi FC has yet to secure a victory this season, their performance in this match showed clear improvement, and if they maintain this form, the capital team will soon be back in the title race this season.

In the Saigon derby, Ho Chi Minh City Police made an impressive surge to break into the top 3 with a 3-1 win at Go Dau Stadium against the home team Becamex Ho Chi Minh City. A highlight of the match was Tien Linh, who scored the opening goal against his former club.

It may still be early to talk about the championship race, not only for Ho Chi Minh City Police but for any club in the V-League, yet the strength and experience of Ho Chi Minh City Police make them a worthy contender in the competition.