PVF CAND and the painful memories associated with each playoff match in the V-League

Each of the two times PVF CAND entered the playoff to secure a V-League berth, they faced defeat.

PVF-CAND is set to compete in the playoff match for the last remaining V.League 2026/27 slot, facing Bac Ninh. The match kicks off at 6 PM on June 12 at Ha Tinh Stadium. It holds immense significance for Coach Tran Tien Dai and his squad, as only a victory can secure their place in Vietnam's premier football league for the upcoming season.

The police-affiliated team ended the 2025/26 V.League season in 13th place, accumulating 24 points.. Despite having the same points as Becamex TP.HCM, PVF-CAND finished above due to a better head-to-head record. However, this outcome was insufficient to secure direct survival, obliging them to enter a tense playoff against the National First Division runner-up, Bac Ninh.

While Bac Ninh is making its debut in this crucial encounter, PVF-CAND boasts plentiful experience. Nonetheless, their past playoff appearances have brought only bitter memories. On both prior occasions, they fell short of securing a V.League spot or avoiding relegation.

The first instance occurred in 2019, when the club was still known as Pho Hien. Guided by Coach Hua Hien Vinh, Pho Hien ended the First Division season as runners-up, earning a promotion playoff against Thanh Hoa. Although they fielded numerous promising young talents, Pho Hien suffered a 0-1 defeat to the V.League side, thus failing to reach the highest level.

Five years later, PVF-CAND once again came close to V.League promotion by finishing as runners-up in the 2023/24 National First Division. Yet the disappointing script repeated itself. In the playoff against Ha Tinh, the squad under Coach Jeronimo Mauro fell to a 1-3 defeat, once more failing to achieve promotion.

Compared to the 2024 playoff, PVF-CAND's current roster still features several players who endured that loss, including goalkeeper Phi Minh Long, forward Nguyen Thanh Nhan, and midfielder Nguyen Xuan Bac. Hence, the clash with Bac Ninh is not merely about securing a V.League 2026/27 berth; it also offers PVF-CAND a chance to break their playoff losing streak and demonstrate their resilience in the season's most critical moment.