Ninh Binh lost their advantage in the V-League 2025/26 championship race

03/10/2025 06:52:00 GameGladiator

The 6th round of the LPBank V-League 2025/26 continued on October 2 evening with two exciting matches, both finishing in draws. Ninh Binh, playing with one extra player, took the lead but The Cong Viettel managed a regrettable equalizer in the second half, while Becamex TP.HCM under new coach Dang Tran Chinh forced Thanh Hoa to share points.

Before this round, Ninh Binh held 13 points at the top of the table, while The Cong Viettel was 4th with 11 points and remained unbeaten. The outcome of this direct clash could reshape the top group standings, as both teams hoped to gain the upper hand.

With home advantage, Ninh Binh started confidently, but The Cong Viettel under coach Popov demonstrated a varied, fast-paced attacking style featuring Pedro, Nata, and Lucao.

The visitors aggressively pressed and created several dangerous situations. However, the turning point came in the 34th minute when Bui Tien Dung committed a shirt-pull foul on Gustavo during a one-on-one with the goalkeeper. Referee Nguyen Manh Hai immediately awarded a penalty and gave a straight red card to the visiting center-back. Duc Chien calmly converted the penalty to put Ninh Binh ahead. Notably, Duc Chien and Hoang Duc celebrated enthusiastically against the club that made their names.

Despite being handicapped, The Cong Viettel resiliently attacked with only 10 men. Their effort was rewarded in the 68th minute when Lucao assisted Dinh Xuan Tien to score a decisive shot to equalize 1-1. This player is a notable addition to Vietnam’s U23 team, a former SLNA striker who has been a standout young talent for years but has not developed as expected for various reasons.

Hoang Duc (center) failed to secure a win when facing his former club The Cong Viettel. Photo: Nhat Anh

Towards the end, Ninh Binh also lost a player when Geovane was shown a red card, restoring balance to the match. Both teams struggled to convert chances, and the 1-1 score remained until the final whistle.

This result allowed Ninh Binh to stay top with 14 points, though their lead was reduced. The Cong Viettel remained unbeaten and maintained their place among the title contenders.

Meanwhile, in Thanh Hoa, two teams struggling near the bottom, Thanh Hoa and Becamex TP.HCM, both sought to reclaim winning momentum. The visitors TP.HCM, with new coach Dang Tran Chinh, started brightly and scored first in the 16th minute thanks to a decisive shot by Oduenyi. However, their joy was short-lived as defender Mbodj headed an equalizer for Thanh Hoa just five minutes later.

In the second half, the home team created many chances, but luck seemed to avoid them. The most notable was Van Tung’s shot that hit the post, and Thanh Hoa remained winless. The match ended 1-1, leaving both sides disappointed.

This result kept Thanh Hoa second from bottom with only 3 points, continuing their crisis as they have yet to win this season. Coach Choi Kwon Won faces mounting pressure. Meanwhile, Becamex TP.HCM has not turned their luck despite the coaching change, holding just 4 points and still struggling near the bottom.

Round 6 results

SHB Da Nang – Hanoi FC: 0 - 2

Ninh Binh – The Cong Viettel: 1-1

Thanh Hoa – Becamex TP.HCM: 1-1

Round 6 schedule and live commentary (Friday, October 3):

17:00HAGL – SLNA (FPT Play, VTV5, MyTV, TV360, SCTV)

18:00Hong Linh Ha Tinh – PVF CAND (FPT Play, TV360+9)

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