Thanh Hóa receives a generous Tet bonus after defeating CA Ho Chi Minh City

On the evening of February 8th, Thanh Hóa Football Club secured one of the most heartfelt wins in the V.League 2025/26 season by defeating Công an TP.HCM 2-1 at Thống Nhất Stadium during the 13th round.

The hero for Thanh Hóa in this match was the Vietnamese-Laotian midfielder Damoth Thongkhamsavath. This player scored twice with powerful long-range shots, leaving the CATPHCM defense helpless and helping Thanh Hóa take the lead. Although the home team scored a consolation goal, the Thanh Hóa squad held firm under heavy pressure to secure the victory until the final minutes. This performance demonstrated significant tactical improvement, spirit, and resilience under pressure for Thanh Hóa under coach Mai Xuân Hợp.

This resounding victory immediately brought great joy to the Thanh Hóa team. Mr. Nguyễn Văn Đệ, former chairman of Thanh Hóa FC, affectionately known as “bầu Đệ,” decided to reward the entire team with a 300 million VND bonus. This was seen as a timely encouragement, reflecting the former leader’s care and support for the team during the toughest phase of the season.

After the match, bầu Đệ proactively sent a direct message to coach Mai Xuân Hợp to express his pride and boost the team’s morale. In the message to the young Thanh Hóa coach, he wrote: “Today, the team played very well. You led the players to embody the true spirit of Thanh Hóa. I am very proud of you all and have allocated 300 million VND from the Hợp Lực Corporation fund to celebrate Tet. Keep leading the team to win each match to secure the league position, son.”

This bonus not only has material value but also serves as a great morale booster, motivating Thanh Hóa players to remain determined throughout the rest of the V.League 2025/26 season. Given the many challenges the team faces, the support from former affiliates like bầu Đệ is more meaningful than ever.

On his personal page, coach Mai Xuân Hợp expressed deep gratitude for the former owner’s concern. He shared: “On behalf of the Thanh Hóa team, we sincerely thank Mr. Nguyễn Văn Đệ, the former chairman of the club, who has always followed our steps. I also hope that benefactors and Thanh Hóa football fans will join hands to help the team overcome this difficult period.”

Following the historic win at Thống Nhất Stadium, coach Mai Xuân Hợp couldn’t hide his emotions. He frankly admitted: “We had one week to prepare for the match in Ho Chi Minh City. We went on the field with full fighting spirit. This victory is dedicated to the whole team and over 4 million people of Thanh Hóa. Football is a game of smiles, and we achieved that. Today is the happiest day for me.”

From a professional perspective, the 3 points gained against CATPHCM significantly improved Thanh Hóa’s position in the V.League 2025/26 standings and created a safer gap from the relegation zone. More importantly, this win shows Thanh Hóa still has a solid chance to stay in the league if they maintain the spirit and style shown in this match.