Van Khang shines, Viettel secures convincing win to compete for V-League championship with CAHN

The match between Becamex TP.HCM and Viettel in round 15 of the V-League concluded with a convincing 3-1 victory for the military team on the day Khuat Van Khang shone.

Despite playing away, Viettel demonstrated sharpness in transitioning and extremely effective opportunity utilization, with the most notable contribution coming from young midfielder Khuat Van Khang.

From the very first minutes, the visiting team surprised the spectators. While many were still settling into their seats, Khuat Van Khang created a breakthrough moment in the 3rd minute. From a sprint in the midfield area, the 2003-born midfielder skillfully curved the ball past the opponent's defender before unleashing a dangerous right-footed shot into the far corner, opening the scoring for Viettel. The early goal not only gave the visitors an advantage but also made the match tempo lively from the start.

After conceding, Becamex TP.HCM, under the guidance of Japanese coach Ueno Nobuhiro, pushed forward to seek an equalizer. The home team held more possession at times and was soon rewarded.

A right-wing advance by Thanh Long created a turning point when his cross accidentally touched a Viettel defender's foot, changing direction into the net, leaving goalkeeper Van Viet unable to react.

However, the home team's morale advantage did not last long. While the match was in a stalemate, Khuat Van Khang shone once again. From a tricky corner kick, the ball found striker Lucas, allowing the Brazilian forward to powerfully head it home, helping Viettel regain the lead. This was also the second consecutive match where Van Khang assisted a teammate, continuing his impressive form after the previous round.

Post-match statistics showed Becamex TP.HCM was not inferior in terms of play. The home team had slightly more ball control with 52% possession and launched 8 shots, 6 of which were on target. However, Viettel was the more efficient team. They executed 14 shots and created numerous dangerous situations from quick counterattacks and set plays, evidenced by receiving 8 corner kicks.

Entering the second half, Becamex TP.HCM tried to increase pressure by adjusting personnel and pushing the formation higher. The home team's play improved somewhat, but as they sought an equalizer, Viettel launched a decisive counterattack. In the 80th minute, Lucas provided a favorable pass for Wesley to surge forward and powerfully finish across the corner, sealing the 3-1 victory for the visitors.

This victory not only extended Viettel's winning streak to three consecutive matches but also helped them continue to fiercely chase in the championship race. The military team solidified their second-place position on the standings, continuing to pressure the top-ranked team, Hanoi Police, while widening the gap with trailing rivals like Ninh Binh FC.

With Khuat Van Khang's current form and sharp counterattacking style, Viettel is proving to be a truly formidable contender in the decisive phase of the season.

In another development also in round 15 of the V-League, Nam Dinh Steel defeated host PVF CAND 1-0 thanks to the sole goal scored by Lucao in the 90th minute.

This was a match where Nam Dinh demonstrated clear superiority in both play and chance creation. The visitors held 70% possession, almost completely dominating the play against PVF-CAND.

Good ball control allowed Nam Dinh to deploy a coherent attacking style, continuously pressuring the home team's defense. The figures of 19 shots, with 8 on target, clearly reflect the pressure the visitors created throughout the 90 minutes.

Meanwhile, PVF-CAND mainly opted for a defensive counterattacking style. With only 30% possession and 5 shots throughout the match, the home team faced difficulties in organizing quality attacking plays.

PVF-CAND's midfield was almost overshadowed by the opponent's flexible ball circulation, preventing them from maintaining pressure on Nam Dinh's half.

Another notable point was the number of set plays. Nam Dinh received 8 corner kicks, four times more than the home team. Although they scored only one goal, considering the overall play, Nam Dinh's victory was entirely deserved. The visitors demonstrated initiative, match control ability, and created more dangerous opportunities.