The order of the V-League is becoming more divided

29/09/2025 07:58:00 TrophyTracker

Last weekend's round witnessed a severe decline of the defending champions Nam Dinh and the stability of title contenders like Ninh Binh, CAHN, Viettel Army, and the phenomenon Ho Chi Minh City Police. The V-League standings are beginning to stratify clearly from this point onward.

At Thien Truong Stadium, the highlight match between Nam Dinh and CAHN ended similarly to the last three seasons here. Leo Artur continued to prove his remarkable scoring knack whenever visiting Nam Dinh. This was the third consecutive time the Brazilian player scored against Nam Dinh away from home, resulting again from a familiar combination play with his compatriot Alan Grafite.

In the second half, Quang Hai made his mark with a clever run before assisting Alan to seal the 2-0 victory. The trio of Quang Hai – Alan – Leo Artur has become the core that leads CAHN back onto the winning track, leveling points with Ninh Binh and Ho Chi Minh City Police.

Coach Alexandre Polking’s team has won 5 and drawn 1 in the last 6 rounds, reaffirming their status as title contenders, while continuing to inspire fans to believe in their chances for international competitions. Conversely, Nam Dinh has fallen into instability with 3 matches without a win, including 2 consecutive defeats. With only 7 points after 5 rounds, coach Vu Hong Viet’s team is worryingly declining, dropping to mid-table.

Meanwhile, Ninh Binh’s winning streak at Lach Tray Stadium was broken. Gustavo continued to show impressive form by sprinting to win a penalty, allowing Hoang Duc to open the scoring in the 16th minute. The visitors nearly doubled their lead if Geovane’s goal had not been ruled offside.

Luck did not favor Ninh Binh as soon after, Bicou Bissainthe equalized for Hai Phong. In the second half, Geovane scored a stunning long-range goal to make it 2-1, but defensive lapses cost Ninh Binh when Huu Nam crossed and Friday’s surprise caused Van Lam to score an own goal. The match ended 2-2, ending Ninh Binh’s winning run. Still, with 13 points and a superior goal difference, coach Castano’s players remain top, level on points with CAHN and Ho Chi Minh City Police.

One of the biggest highlights of this round was the spectacular comeback by Ho Chi Minh City Police at Vinh Stadium. Trailing SLNA 0-2 in the first half, under the fierce guidance of coach Le Huynh Duc and a spirited revival, the visitors scored 3 consecutive goals to win 3-2.

Defending champions Nam Dinh (in white) disappointed by losing at home to CAHN. Photo: Song Ngoc

This is considered the most impressive victory since the season began, putting Ho Chi Minh City Police into the title race. The breakthrough of lesser-known young players like Nguyen Thai Quoc Cuong and Bui Van Binh brought fresh energy. Striker Tien Linh also regained his scoring touch, netting 3 goals to lead the domestic top scorer list, confirming his leadership role. With their current form, Ho Chi Minh City Police are truly reborn, becoming a symbol connecting city fans with Thong Nhat Stadium.

In another development, Viettel Army, despite playing late, took advantage of their home ground to defeat Hong Linh Ha Tinh. Foreign duo Lucao and Pedro continued to shine, securing an important victory. With 12 points, coach Velizar Popov’s squad is just 1 point behind the leaders, creating an exciting four-way race in the league.

The situation in the bottom group is also getting more intense. HAGL continued to disappoint by drawing goalless against newcomers PVF-CAND. This is the fourth consecutive match where coach Vu Tien Thanh’s players have failed to score, making them the only team in the V-League yet to find the net.

Poor performance puts coach Vu Tien Thanh’s team at risk of an early relegation battle. Thanh Hoa also remains in decline, this time losing to Hanoi FC. The club, having changed coaches after a shaky start, earned their first 3 points, motivating the return of Van Quyet and teammates. However, the journey back for the six-time V-League champions still faces many challenges. Meanwhile, Thanh Hoa faces a bleak future if they continue to trust coach Choi Won Kwon.

Becamex Ho Chi Minh City lost to SHB Da Nang at Go Dau Stadium, increasing pressure on coach Nguyen Anh Duc as the team has yet to improve its form. SLNA also dropped into the danger zone after a comeback loss to Ho Chi Minh City Police. Thus, the candidates for the relegation battle are becoming clearer with HAGL, Thanh Hoa, Becamex Ho Chi Minh City, SLNA, and PVF CAND.

After round 5, the 2025/26 V-League shows a clear division. The title race is fiercely contested among Ninh Binh, CAHN, Ho Chi Minh City Police, and Viettel Army. Conversely, the bottom group sees many names falling, promising an intense relegation fight that rivals the battle for the championship.

Round 5 Results

Hanoi FC – Thanh Hoa: 2-1

SLNA – Ho Chi Minh City Police: 2-3

Becamex Ho Chi Minh City – SHB Da Nang: 1-2

PVF CAND – HAGL: 0-0

Hai Phong – Ninh Binh: 2-2

Nam Dinh – CAHN: 0-2

Comment (0)