PVF CAND - HAGL: The stage for emerging young talents

PVF-CAND started the V-League enthusiastically by defeating SLNA in round 1. However, they only managed to earn 1 point from the next 3 matches. With 4 points total, PVF-CAND is temporarily positioned mid-table. This is seen as a decent outcome for a rookie team. Yet, match experience remains an area where coach Thạch Bảo Khanh’s players need improvement to survive in the highly competitive national championship.

PVF-CAND’s opponent this round, the mountainous town club HAGL, has faced even more difficulties this season. After 4 matches, coach Lê Quang Trãi’s team has only secured 1 point, lost 3 games, and currently sits at the bottom of the table.

The departure of many key players this season and heavy reliance on a young squad have significantly weakened HAGL’s strength. Ahead lies a challenging period for coach Lê Quang Trãi’s team, but the mountainous club has experience, being familiar with relegation battles over many past seasons.

A 2-0 victory at Thanh Hóa in the recent National Cup has reignited the mountainous club’s confidence, providing a vital morale boost ahead of their away match in Hưng Yên. Against a rookie opponent like PVF-CAND, HAGL fully hopes to secure points or even a win by leveraging the determination of their young players.

Although not a clash between title contenders, the match between PVF-CAND and HAGL is highly notable as both teams have the youngest squads in the V-League. They are also among the few clubs maintaining the philosophy of building through youth development, prioritizing young players in the first team, and seeking a distinctive playing style through the younger generation.

Both clubs have contributed many homegrown talents to Vietnam’s U23 team, helping coach Kim Sang-sik’s squad win the 2025 Southeast Asian U23 Championship and qualify for the 2026 U23 Asian Championship finals.

While HAGL provided the "steel wall" goalkeeper Trần Trung Kiên and center-back Phạm Lý Đức (now playing for Công an Hà Nội), PVF-CAND boasts players like Nguyễn Hiểu Minh, Nguyễn Xuân Bắc, and Nguyễn Thanh Nhàn.

Both sides are eager for victory; PVF-CAND enjoys home advantage while HAGL benefits from extra rest and preparation time since they did not play in round 4.

This is the first time PVF-CAND and HAGL face each other in the V-League. Playing at home, coach Thạch Bảo Khanh’s team is keen to seize the opportunity to improve their points tally and strengthen their position in the relegation fight.

The clash between PVF-CAND and HAGL in round 5 of the V-League 2025–2026 will kick off at 18:00 on September 27. This will be a tough and unpredictable battle, potentially decisive for the relegation standings.

Projected starting lineups for both teams

PVF-CAND: Minh Long, Hiểu Minh, Bảo Long, Eyenga, Anh Quân, Viết Trường, Công Đến, Xuân Bắc, Thanh Nhàn, Samson, Amarildo

HAGL: Trung Kiên, Quang Kiệt, Rodrigues, Anh Tài, Du Học, Thành Nhân, Hoàng Minh, Marciel, Vĩnh Nguyên, Ha Ryan, Gabriel