The fierce battle to avoid relegation in the V-League

10/11/2025 07:56:00 PANDATV

Round 11 is still ongoing but has already seen a series of intense matches, many goals, and some unbelievable moments. The key match at Thong Nhat Stadium between CATP.HCM and Ninh Binh stands out as one of the most memorable games of the season, featuring 7 goals and a thrilling back-and-forth battle.

Ninh Binh quickly took the lead in the 5th minute through Le Hai Duc’s close-range strike, but shortly after, the home side CATP.HCM equalized with a goal from Viet Hoang. Energized, Coach Le Huynh Duc’s team played exceptionally well, scoring two additional goals to take a 3-1 lead, with both Duc Phu and Lee Williams scoring. Just as the fans at Thong Nhat were celebrating, convinced the hosts had secured all three points, Ninh Binh’s goal avalanche began.

Before halftime, Hoang Duc scored a beautiful header to reduce the deficit to 2-3, setting the stage for a stunning comeback. In the second half, Gustavo Henrique leveled the score at 3-3 after VAR confirmed the goal’s legitimacy.

Meanwhile, Nguyen Tien Linh, the reigning 2024 Vietnamese Golden Ball winner, missed two clear chances in the second half, notably a one-on-one with Van Lam in the 87th minute. The ball went wide, much to the disappointment of the home fans, and tragedy struck CATP.HCM immediately after. Foreign player Geovane Magno delivered a sharp cross that led defender Quang Hung to score an own goal. Ninh Binh secured a spectacular 4-3 victory, completing an unbelievable scenario.

This victory helped Coach Gerard Castano’s team solidify their top position with 27 points from 11 matches, extending a 7-point lead over second-placed CAHN, who still have 3 games in hand. Hoang Duc’s outstanding performance, including a goal and a clear influence on Ninh Binh’s play, makes him a strong contender for the 2025 Vietnamese Golden Ball award, aiming for a career hat-trick of titles.

Meanwhile, CATP.HCM temporarily sits in 5th place with 17 points, still having many opportunities ahead but needing to improve their chance conversion if they want to compete among the top teams.

Ninh Binh remains firmly in first place with a record unbeaten streak. Photo: Tuan Pham

In other matches, round 11 also featured many exciting goal chases. At PVF stadium, the 2-2 draw between PVF CAND and The Cong Viettel was equally dramatic. PVF CAND opened the scoring with a long-range shot from Amarildo but then conceded two goals to The Cong Viettel in the second half. In stoppage time, veteran Hoang Vu Samson shone to rescue a point for the hosts. This result helped PVF CAND temporarily escape the relegation zone, while The Cong Viettel missed the chance to break into the top three.

In Pleiku, HAGL continued their unbeaten record against Thanh Hoa, extending it to 11 matches thanks to a precious equalizer by Quang Kiet in the 90+10 minute. The U23 Vietnam player made the fans of the Mountainous City club erupt in joy by avoiding defeat in a dramatic fashion. Thanh Hoa deserved all three points, but the long-standing curse of not beating HAGL seemed to haunt Thai Son and his teammates again. The 1-1 draw with the Thanh Hoa club leaves Coach Vu Tien Thanh’s team with 8 points, ranked 12th, one place below Thanh Hoa, who also have 8 points.

At Lach Tray Stadium, Hai Phong showed impressive form by defeating SHB Da Nang 3-1. Goals from Bui Tien Dung, Tagueu, and Fred Friday helped the port city team maintain their position in the top 3 with 20 points. On the other hand, SHB Da Nang plunged deeper into crisis, falling to the bottom of the table with only 7 points after 11 rounds, one point behind the safety zone.

At Vinh Stadium, SLNA under new coach Van Sy Son finally found joy with a 2-1 victory over Becamex TP.HCM. Reon Moore’s brace not only helped SLNA overcome difficulties but also inspired confidence for the Nghệ An team moving forward. Despite efforts, visiting Becamex TP.HCM still showed many defensive weaknesses, and Coach Dang Tran Chinh acknowledged there is much work to be done with the club from Thu Dau Mot.

After this round, Ninh Binh continues to affirm their status as the top contender for the first half championship, boasting the strongest attack in the league with 26 goals. Ninh Binh maintains a record unbeaten streak in Asia, and the upcoming long break will help the club recover physically to continue the race in the remaining matches.

Round 11 results:

PVF CAND – The Cong Viettel: 2-2

HAGL – Thanh Hoa: 1-1

SLNA – Becamex TP.HCM: 2-1

Hai Phong – SHB Da Nang: 3-1

CATP.HCM – Ninh Binh: 3-4

Schedule and live broadcast for round 11 (Monday, November 10):

18:00, Thien Truong Stadium: Nam Dinh – Hanoi FC (FPT Play, VTV5, HTV Sports, MyTV, TV360, SCTV)

19:15, Hang Day Stadium: CAHN – Hong Linh Ha Tinh (FPT Play, TV360+4)

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